Airlines protest budget proposal to raise passenger fees

A little over a year into the Trump administration, the airline industry has mixed feelings about the businessman-turned-president.

Three of the country's biggest airlines - United, Delta and American - and their labor unions praised Trump last month for making a deal to get Qatar Airlines to restrict its flights to the United States and provide more financial information.

The deal came after years of complaints that accused Qatar, Etihad and Emirates airlines of competing unfairly with U.S. airlines by accepting subsidies from their oil-rich government owners.

But now, a trade group that represents those same U.S. airlines is protesting a proposal from the Trump administration to raise fees on airline tickets to collect nearly $3 billion.

The Trump budget would raise the passenger security fee charged to all fliers by $1 per one-way trip next year and $1.65 in 2020, raising the total fee in 2020 to $8.25 per one-way ticket.

The proposal calls for a nearly $2 increase to two separate fees charged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on travelers entering the country via boat or airplane.

'Increasing taxes in any form will add to the cost of flying for millions of Americans, curtail job growth and limit the options small and medium communities currently enjoy,” said Nicholas Calio, CEO of Airlines for America, the trade group for the country airlines.