The budget plan,
sent this week to Congress, includes higher airline passenger security fees, a higher ceiling for airport passenger facilities charges, a new aviation system user fee and higher customs fees. Airlines for America conveyed its "strong opposition" to what it described as "an unprecedented tax grab," claiming the proposals would raise by 29 percent the amount of taxes paid by airlines and their customers. "Business travelers will retreat in the face of doubled passenger facility charges and Transportation Security Administration fees," according to a statement attributed to Global Business Travel Association executive director Michael McCormick. "The short-term gain is not worth the long-term cost." GBTA, however, applauded the administration's attention on NextGen air traffic control development and expanded trusted-traveler programs.