WELLINGTON, Kansas -- Those ticket taxes you pay when you fly can really cause the price to jump, but now a new report reveals some of that money is going to airports that only service private planes.
An investigation by USA Today reveals millions of dollars in taxes collected from commercial passengers are going to little used airports that only service private planes, including over 50 airports in Kansas.
At Wellington’s Municipal Airport construction is underway on a nearly $700 thousand apron for parking private jets and planes.
In 2003 they added a new runway.
Ninety-Five percent of both projects were paid for with federal taxes collected from commercial ticket fees even though commercial passengers will never fly there.
A $300 ticket can jump to $365 once you add in federal and local taxes and fees.
The USA today review finds $1.2 billion in airport ticket taxes this year will go to nearly 2 thousand little used airports that offer no commercial service.
"It’s outrageous to think that the customers on our flights are being asked to support general aviation airports that will never see a commercial flight. It is tax policy gone awry," said Jim May of the Airline Trade Organization.
The Wellington airport is one of over fifty general aviation airports in Kansas that received the federal money.
Smaller communities however, argue that airports are necessary for economic development.
In Wellington, they have some of the cheapest jet fuel in the nation. So every business jet they can get to land here and fuel up, the crew may go into town and get something to eat and perhaps decided this is a good place to expand their business.
In a statement the general aviation manufacturers association noted: "GA airports are the lifelines to thousands of small to mid-size communities throughout the country….It is the local airport that provides the portal for time critical parts and supplies to flow to and from businesses.”
"It’s kind of a catch 22 if you don't pay for it and you need it what are you going to do,” said Wellington airport manager Patrick Hamlin.
In Wellington they also point out the airport improvement funds are bringing hundreds of thousands of federal dollars into the community.
Still critics argue its money that never should have landed here in the first place.
