Wrong Aircraft Used To Calculate Fees For Great Lakes Aviation

The Denver city auditor's office has issued a report, stating Great Lakes Aviation currently owes the city $482,244 in various fees and interest for using Denver International Airport from 2000 to 2004.

The Cheyenne, WY-based carrier has been slapped with a bill including $276,585 in underpaid landing fees, according to the Associated Press. The audit report, made available Sunday, indicates Great Lakes Aviation was apparently using the wrong aircraft weights to calculate the fees after it switched aircraft models.

The report also states the interest on payments due accrues at an annual rate of 18 percent under an airport use and lease agreement.

Auditor Dennis Gallagher's spokesman Denis Berckefeldt said it was unknown if the carrier would be able to pay up. This current payment due is part of $10.5 million owed for 2004. The audit shows the carrier has already paid more than $10 million of that amount.

Great Lakes Aviation did not return a phone message left by the AP or ANN. The audit reported the company has not yet responded to the findings.

FMI: www.greatlakesav.com/, www.flydenver.com