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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Obama tries again with modest airline fee increase

The Obama administration is trying again, as it did last fall, to require airlines and their passengers to help offset some of the cost of government services they use -- something that is already routine and seemingly widely accepted by travelers. The administration's fiscal 2013 budget proposal, released yesterday, includes a request to Congress to raise the $2.50 per segment fee for aviation security to $5, and then gradually increase it to $7.50 over five years. The proposal also seeks a $100 per flight fee on all aircraft takeoffs to help defray the costs of air-traffic control and to help reduce the federal deficit. Once again, the airlines are vehemently opposed to such increases.  

The airlines' opposition to increasing fees is no surprise, but as I recently explored in some depth in a trade magazine article I wrote, the industry has been called hypocritical as it argues against the increases. The airlines contend that raising fees modestly will be a killer, leading to higher prices that will mean fewer customers, which in turn will lead to canceled service and abandonment of some routes and eventually to large job losses in the travel indstry. As my article asks: OK, so what has the effect been on travel from the airlines' own fees imposed over the last three years? And what was the impact on air traffic been of a dozen base fare increases in 2011? Which would have a greater negative effect, paying $2.50 or $5 more for security or paying $50 to $100 more per flight if you want to check a bag and sit in a specific aisle seat? Read my article in Business Travel Executive to learn more.

In the meantime, in case you're worried about the financial health of the always-fragile airline industry, a Wall Street analyst's report this morning estimates that industry revenue for every available seat it flies one mile will be up 9 percent or better in January and February and 7.5 percent in March vs. a year ago. I'm finding it hard to feel sorry for the airlines right now.  How about you? 
Posted by Tom Belden @ 12:55 PM  Permalink | 5 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:42 PM, 02/14/2012
    yes, more taxes. We should pay more so granny can be molested by TSA agents with GED's.
    — OhOkay
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:29 PM, 02/14/2012
    How can the "writer" equate government imposed fees and a business owner's own pricing decisions? Not hypocritical at all.
    — TripleCap
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:43 PM, 02/14/2012
    really, "trys" not "tries"?
    — DontBelieveTheHype
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:05 PM, 02/14/2012
    Airline security is too important to be left to the people who brought us the Post Office and the DMV.
    — hodg99
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:49 PM, 02/15/2012
    I looked up the word "modest" and the meaning was..see ala-carte estreem
    — STEVE5444


5 comments
About Tom Belden
Tom Belden has been reporting about Philadelphia International Airport and other air travel subjects for more than 20 years, writing columns for The Inquirer's Travel and Business sections. His reporting (with colleague Craig McCoy) on baggage handling problems in Philadelphia have been credited with helping to improve the system. His previous blog was called Road Warrior. He can reached at tbelden@phillynews.com.
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