Says Airport Costs Are Disproportionately Carried By Commercial Operators

The Dallas City Council has passed an ordinance to begin charging landing fees to GA aircraft at Love Field in an effort to offset operations and maintenance costs.

According to city documents, commercial air carriers are charged a landing fee of $2.20 per 1,000 pounds, while GA aircraft pay only "low" fuel flow fees. The documents indicate the GA landing fee will be calculated using an 80/20 formula, with 80% of the fee comprised of Dallas Love Field’s operation and maintenance costs attributable to general aviation aircraft landings and 20% of the fee attributable to the general aviation aircraft’s landed weight. The fee will vary annually based on the operations and maintenance costs.

In a separate document, the city notes that General Aviation services are also provided at Dallas Executive Airport, where no landing fees are charged.

The city says that the implementation of a General Aviation landing fee will have an effect on some users of the airfield, however given most other commercial airports charge landing fees, the impact should be minimal.

The landing fees go into effect July 1.

(Image from file)

FMI: Council Agenda