Fri, Jun 08, 2007
Says 22 Carriers Owe Security Fees
Following an 18-month dispute over security fees payable by
domestic airlines to the Transportation Security Administration, on
Thursday the TSA ruled the carriers have to cough up some scratch
-- to the tune of $219 million.
Of the 22 carriers called out by the TSA, Southwest Airliness
owes the most at $54 million -- followed by American Airlines at
$40 million and Delta Air Lines at $32 million. The list goes down
from there; all the airlines must make arrangements to pay within
the next 30 days, or face additional penalties.
As Aero-News reported earlier this
year, the Department of Homeland Security told the
airlines to expect a bill in the mail before year's end. The
airlines also appealed an increase in security screening
fees in January 2006, calling the almost-doubling of
annual payments due "unfair and excessive."
The airlines believe it's the government's responsibility to
provide security at airports, and not the individual carriers.
"Our members intend to challenge TSA's action," Air Transport
Association spokesman David Castelveter told Bloomberg. "We will
pursue all appropriate actions including review by the courts."
The TSA is hoping to reduce its dependence on US Treasury
revenue by imposing the fees. Several carriers are now reviewing
the TSA's demands.
"We believe it is time for the TSA to develop a new system for
allocating these costs, which is based on 2000 market shares," said
American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner. "This old system is
fundamentally unfair."
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