Juneau -- House Transportation Committee Chair Representative Beverly Masek (R-Willow) has tasked Representative John Cowdery (R-Anchorage) to lead a special Transportation subcommittee charged with reviewing Passenger Facility Charges (PFC) at Anchorage International Airport. In question are the millions of dollars travelers to and from Alaska now send to Seattle, Salt Lake City, and other Lower 48 cities.

"What most Alaskans don't realize is that we are paying PFCs already," Cowdery said. "Our intent is to capture the thousands of dollars that leave the state every day, simply because we don't have a mechanism to capture them."

"We're way behind the rest of the country on this issue," said Cowdery. "We intend to find out if there's a good reason for it." "We want to see if there's a way to keep in Alaska some of the money that now wings its way south."

Last year's approval of $180 million in bonded debt for improvements at Anchorage International Airport sparked interest in Passenger Facility Charges as a means to repay the bonds. PFC's are supported by most air carriers, including Alaska Airlines, Delta, Reeve, FedEx, United and others. The FAA is practically begging us to participate in the program, according to Cowdery. "We are the only medium hub airport in the entire country that is not doing it."

"The bottom line", said the Anchorage Republican, "is that we'll get more funds for our airports with PFC's than without them and visitors will pay too."

In addition to Chairman Cowdery, Representative Jerry Sanders (R-Anchorage) and Representative Allen Kemplen (D-Anchorage) will serve on the subcommittee.

Passenger Facility Charge FAQ
PFC Sample Itinerary file.   PC MS-Excel 97 format.

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