A Department of Transportation administrative law judge yesterday sided with airlines in a rent dispute at Los Angeles International Airport, recommending Transportation Secretary Mary Peters by June 15 endorse his finding that rent increases at LAX are "unreasonable" and be refunded to carriers. Several carriers, including American, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways, used the increase as justification to levy $10 departure fees for LAX flights.
Other carriers operating out of the airport, including Continental, had not levied a surcharge but joined the fight against the rent increase they claimed was unfair and designated for unspecified projects.
Buyers and consultants suggested there is little recourse in mitigating the surcharge, which some characterized as a de facto fare increase
(BTN, April 23).