<B>WashingtonWire</B>
<B>PFC Increase Delayed</B>
It appears likely that the new PFC per flight segment cap of $4.50--up from the present $3 per flight segment--won't take effect until April 1, due to airline complaints that they can't handle the collection process without time-consuming computer changes. The Federal Aviation Administration, which is working on the issue, is said to be favoring the April 1 date as well, but will attempt to accommodate certain airports that want to implement the higher fee earlier than next spring. FAA committed to industry officials that it will explore ways that carriers and airports could work together locally to collect increased PFCs without relying on the computer generated "box" on passenger tickets.
<B><A NAME="2">Federal Per Diems Increase Marginally</B>
New per diem travel rates for federal employees in 424 U.S. cities take effect on Oct. 1 for the 2001 fiscal year. The daily rates, which include hotel, meals and tips, range from a low of $85 in small cities to $244 in New York City, and overall are up by 1.4 percent over last year. Thirty percent of the rates increased over 2000 rates, 43 percent stayed the same and 27 percent decreased. Per diem lodging rates for the 10 locations visited most often by federal travelers are: Arlington, Va., $119; San Diego, $99; Los Angeles, $99; San Antonio, Texas, $91; Washington, D.C., $119; Las Vegas, $72; Atlanta, $93; Alexandria, Va., $119; St. Louis, $90; and Albuquerque, N.M., $65. These 10 destinations host about 15 percent of all federal employee room nights.