Sponsors
Last progress June 5, 2025 (7 months ago)
Introduced on June 5, 2025 by Mark E. Amodei
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Changes the rules for passenger facility charges (PFCs) by raising the statutory maximums for certain one-year periods in 2027–2029 and establishing a new ongoing maximum beginning in 2030 that will be indexed for inflation. The amendments apply to any PFCs imposed on or after January 1, 2027, and also include minor technical edits to punctuation and cross-references in the existing law.
Amend 49 U.S.C. 40117: In subsection (b), paragraph (1) — replace the previously listed dollar amounts with the phrase 'described in paragraph (4)'.
Replace paragraph (4) of 49 U.S.C. 40117(b) with a new 'Passenger facility charge amount' that sets maximum PFCs for specific one-year periods and thereafter: $5.50 for the 1-year period beginning January 1, 2027; $6.50 for the 1-year period beginning January 1, 2028; $7.50 for the 1-year period beginning January 1, 2029; and $8.50 on and after January 1, 2030 (with annual inflation adjustments thereafter).
In subsection (b), paragraph (6)(i) — strike the words 'paragraphs (1) and (4)' and insert 'paragraph (1)'.
In subsection (b), paragraph (6)(ii) — strike a semicolon (a punctuation edit is made as shown in the text).
In subsection (b), paragraph (7)(A)(i) — strike a semicolon (punctuation edit).
Who is affected and how:
Airport sponsors: Most directly affected. Public airport authorities or other designated sponsors can charge PFCs up to the new higher statutory ceilings, allowing them to increase locally generated capital funding for airport infrastructure, noise mitigation, terminal projects, and other eligible uses.
Airline passengers / air travel consumers: Likely to experience higher per-ticket fees if local airport sponsors elect to raise PFCs up to the new limits. Effects will vary by airport and by whether airlines or airports absorb or pass through the charge.
Air carriers: Indirectly affected operationally and commercially. Airlines may see slight effects on demand at airports that raise PFCs and may need to update ticketing systems to reflect changed fee levels.
Local governments and communities: Those that own or sponsor airports could see accelerated project timelines or expanded project scopes because of increased PFC revenue potential; conversely, communities concerned about higher travel costs or equity impacts may push back on higher local fees.
Federal government / FAA: Minimal direct budgetary effect because PFCs are locally imposed fees that fund local airport projects. FAA administrative and approval processes for PFC-funded projects remain in force; the law change primarily alters the statutory ceiling rather than federal program structure.
Overall impact: The change mainly shifts the ceiling on a locally imposed fee, increasing potential local revenue for airport capital projects and creating the possibility of higher passenger fees, while simplifying long-term adjustments by indexing the cap for inflation. The technical edits are non-substantive.