Oct 9, 2007 12:30 am US/Central
Travelers Could Pay More To Fly Out Of Love Field
by Jack Fink
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
Flying in and out of Dallas Love Field Airport could soon travelers more money.
The Dallas City Council is considering a $3 surcharge per plane ticket. Officials say the money will help pay for a lot of improvements.
Monday, a city council committee voted unanimously to ask the FAA to charge the fee. The full city council votes Wednesday.
Most airports, including DFW, already charge the fee.
Love Field is already very popular among business travelers like Ron Laroux, and he says the charge is almost invisible.
"People don't even know about that," said Laroux to CBS 11 reporter Jack Fink. "I think it would be great to absorb that if it's going to do the improvements that you talked about. I think it would be pretty good."
The new fee could raise as much as $40 million by September 2011.
The City of Dallas is now in the process of developing a new master plan for the airport.
The money would help pay for a new people mover that would connect Love Field to a new DART rail station and for improvements in runway safety and airport security.
Southwest Airlines, which is based at Love Field, is onboard to pay for some of the renovations.
This is all part of last year's historic agreement to end flight restrictions at Love Field by 2014. The new fee could land on tickets as early as February 2008.
"I think everybody's working on the same page," said Dallas City Councilmember Linda Koop. "Everybody knows we have to modernize the airport."
All travelers who spoke to CBS 11 News said they supported the fee.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
