This Act incrementally increases the maximum Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) airports can levy on passengers, starting at \$5.50 in 2027 and rising to \$8.50 by 2030, to fund infrastructure improvements.
Mark Amodei
Representative
NV-2
The Rebuilding America’s Airport Infrastructure Act focuses on modernizing airport facilities by gradually increasing the maximum Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) that airports can levy on passengers. Beginning in 2027, the maximum allowable charge will systematically increase, ultimately settling at \$8.50 starting in 2030. This legislation also includes technical updates to remove outdated references to previous, lower charge amounts within federal law.
Airport Fee Set to Nearly Double: Passenger Facility Charge Rises to $8.50 by 2030
If you’re planning to fly in the next few years, get ready to see a new line item on your ticket creep up. The “Rebuilding America’s Airport Infrastructure Act” is straightforward: it mandates a scheduled increase to the maximum Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) that airports can charge you every time you buy a ticket.
The Ticket Price Creep
Starting January 1, 2027, the maximum PFC—which currently maxes out at $4.50—jumps to $5.50. This isn't a one-time adjustment. The bill schedules further increases: $6.50 starting January 1, 2028, $7.50 starting January 1, 2029, and finally settling at $8.50 indefinitely starting January 1, 2030. Think of the PFC as a mandatory user fee that goes directly to the airport for facility improvements, like updating terminals, runways, or security checkpoints. This isn’t a tax that disappears into the general fund; it’s supposed to be dedicated infrastructure money.
Who Pays and What They Get
Who feels this? Anyone who flies. For the person flying once a year for vacation, an extra few dollars might not seem like a lot, but for the frequent business traveler or the family of four trying to save money on a cross-country trip, these mandatory fees add up fast. For example, by 2030, a family of four will be paying up to $34 more per round trip just in this fee, assuming the airport charges the new maximum amount. While the bill itself focuses on facility improvements, this is a clear, mandatory cost increase for consumers.
The Infrastructure Trade-Off
The upside is that this provides a clear, scheduled funding mechanism for airports that desperately need upgrades. Airports often rely on PFCs to finance major projects that improve efficiency and the passenger experience—think shorter security lines, better gate layouts, or modern baggage systems. The bill also includes some technical clean-up, removing outdated references to the old, lower fee amounts (like the $1, $2, $3, and $4 charges) from existing law, which just streamlines the statute to reflect the new reality. Ultimately, this bill trades a predictable, modest increase in your airfare for a dedicated, long-term funding stream aimed at modernizing the aging infrastructure of America’s airports.