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Alternate name: flight taxes
Airport taxes come in a variety of forms that range from government taxes to fuel charges and noise nuisance fees. The federal ticket excise tax, which is charged on all domestic flights, is a common airport tax in the U.S. You’ll pay 7.5% of your fare in the U.S. federal excise tax. For example, if you buy a ticket from Toledo, Ohio, to Los Angeles for $300, then about $22.50 of that fare was for the federal excise tax. This federal excise tax is collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), but there are other taxes collected by other agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You may not even realize you’re paying these taxes because they’re charged to the airlines; the airlines then pass them on to travelers in the price of their tickets.
How an Airport Tax Works
The revenues raised from airport taxes are earmarked for a variety of causes, including homeland security, infrastructure, airway and airport operation and maintenance, and environmental protection. Airport taxes are not always a flat percentage like the federal ticket excise tax. Some types of airport tax depend on the airports you’re flying in and out of. It typically costs more in airport taxes at a major airport in a large metropolitan hub. The amount of time you spend in the air and how many times you change planes en route can also increase the airport taxes you’ll pay.
Other Types of Airport Taxes
There are nearly a dozen types of airport taxes and fees you may face in the U.S., but you’ll encounter some more frequently than others. Here are a few of the more common types of airport taxes:
The Federal Security Surcharge
The federal security surcharge will add $5.60 to your one-way flight ticket price for both domestic and international flights. It’s also sometimes referred to as the September 11 Security fee. The federal security surcharge fee can double to $11.20 if you have a layover of more than four hours in the U.S., of more than 12 hours internationally, or if your stop is to or from Hawaii or Alaska.
Overflight Fees
The FAA charges this fee to airlines even if they don’t land or take off from U.S. soil. It’s imposed for simply flying through U.S.-controlled airspace.
The Passenger Facility Charge (PFC)
The Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) is $4.50. It can be charged up to four times per round-trip ticket, or twice per one-way trip. So the total PFC you will pay can range from $4.50 to $18. It, too, is levied by the FAA. But it’s only applicable at commercial airports that are controlled by public agencies. This charge largely funds FAA safety and security projects.
How Much Are Airport Taxes?
Airport taxes vary depending on a number of factors, but they can collectively represent about 30% of your fare. The primary airport tax is the federal ticket excise tax at 7.5%, which, for example, would add $18.75 to a $250 ticket.
