Senate passage of bipartisan legislation that limits airline security fees to $11.20 per round trip was applauded by Airlines for America (A4A) and Travelers United, a consumer group. The bill would protect airline customers from higher passenger security taxes.
A4A said the Obama administration, since July 21, 2014, has imposed a $5.60 tax for each stopover (a break in travel of more than four hours between two domestic flights), which has disproportionately hurt consumers from small and rural communities who must often use more one-way trips to reach their final destination.
In September, A4A noted, the House unanimously (423-0) passed companion legislation (H.R. 5462) to restore the round-trip cap on the tax, thereby saving passengers over $60 million annually.
A4A noted the federal government is already collecting an additional $1.2 billion in passenger security taxes annually – on top of the near-record $2 billion in security taxes paid last year.
“The vote is a significant win for the traveling public,” said A4A president and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. “As key drivers of jobs and economic growth, U.S. airlines agree with the bipartisan majority of Congress that keeping the round-trip cap in place will benefit the millions of customers who rely on safe, efficient and affordable air travel in communities across the country.”
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