Sponsors
The bill lets airports fund more and better infrastructure through higher, inflation‑indexed passenger fees—improving facilities and planning but raising travel costs, disproportionately affecting low‑income flyers and shifting more costs onto passengers rather than federal grants.
Local airports and airport authorities can raise substantially more Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) revenue (capped at $8.50 by 2030 plus inflation), enabling funding for terminals, gates, safety upgrades, and other capital projects.
Travelers and local communities benefit from improved airport facilities and services paid for with higher PFCs (e.g., better terminals, gates, noise mitigation, and safety-related projects).
Airports and carriers gain a predictable, inflation‑indexed PFC cap, which supports long‑term project planning and budgeting.
All airline passengers will likely face higher airport fees (up to $8.50 by 2030 plus inflation), increasing the out-of-pocket cost of air travel.
Low‑income travelers will be disproportionately affected by higher PFCs, worsening affordability for people who fly infrequently or for essential travel.
Relying more on increased PFC revenue could reduce pressure for federal airport grants, effectively shifting costs from federal taxpayers to airline passengers and potentially altering federal support patterns.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Phases up the maximum passenger facility charge to $5.50 (2027), $6.50 (2028), $7.50 (2029), and $8.50 from 2030 with annual inflation adjustments.
Raises the federal cap on the passenger facility charge (PFC) that airports can levy on airline tickets. The bill phases in higher maximum PFCs: $5.50 for 2027, $6.50 for 2028, $7.50 for 2029, and $8.50 beginning in 2030, with annual inflation adjustments thereafter, and makes those limits effective for PFCs imposed on or after January 1, 2027. Also updates the statutory text of 49 U.S.C. § 40117 to reflect the new dollar caps, revises paragraph structure and cross-references, removes an older enumerated dollar list, and deletes a now-obsolete paragraph; it does not create new programs or appropriate funding.
Introduced June 5, 2025 by Mark E. Amodei · Last progress June 5, 2025