Tue, Mar 26, 2013
'Adds Insult To Injury' For Airlines And Customers
Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, expressed strong opposition to a provision within the Senate-passed budget resolution, which immediately doubles, and eventually triples the TSA passenger security tax on the backs of the airlines, passengers and shippers, who collectively paid a record $2.3 billion in TSA taxes and fees last year and already pay more than their fair share of federal aviation taxes. The Senate passed the budget resolution last Thursday.
"Airlines and their passengers paid nearly $19 billion in federal taxes last year alone, and today roughly $61 of a typical $300 roundtrip ticket goes straight to Washington in federal taxes," said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. "TSA's budget has increased 18 percent since 2007 while the number of passengers carried by U.S. airlines fell 4 percent. We believe there is opportunity to achieve greater efficiencies – without greater taxes – and we look to further partner with TSA and the Administration on expanding risk-based security options that improve safety, security and efficiency."
The budget resolution passed by the Senate doubles the TSA passenger security tax to $5 per one-way trip, and triples the tax to $7.50 per one-way trip by 2017, costing airlines and their customers $2.5 billion annually over the next ten years. A4A believes full implementation of programs that take a risk-based approach to security, such as TSA PreCheck for passengers and Known Crewmember for pilots and flight attendants will enhance security and screening efficiency and are a more appropriate way to help drive down TSA operating costs.
More News
DETRESFA (Distress Phrase) The code word used to designate an emergency phase wherein there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and i>[...]
Aero Linx: The International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) The International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) is comprised of Mission organizations, flight sch>[...]
Also: EP Systems' Battery, Boeing SAF, Repeat TBM 960 Order, Japan Coast Guard H225 Buy Despite nearly 100 complaints totaling millions of dollars of potential fraud, combined with>[...]
Also: Viasat-uAvionix, UL94 Fuel Investigation, AF Materiel Command, NTSB Safety Alert Norges Luftsportforbund chose Aura Aero's little 2-seater in electric trim for their next gli>[...]
Also: Moya Delivery Drone, USMC Drone Pilot, Inversion RAY Reentry Vehicle, RapidFlight UAVOS has recently achieved a significant milestone in public safety and emergency services >[...]