New fees could mean dollars for resort airport

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Officials are considering adding passenger ticket and pilot landing fees at Hilton Head Island Airport to pay for improvements including lengthening the runway.

But the Island Packet reports (http://bit.ly/ooHhzF ) the Beaufort County airports director warns the fees could hurt in the long run.

The county is paying a consultant to study adding $4.50 per ticket to commercial passenger tickets. Most airports charge such fees.

There’s also a proposal to charge general aviation pilots a landing fee. But there is concern pilots would then land at other nearby airports that don’t charge.

Airports director Paul Andres says traffic at the airport has dropped because of the economy and the departure of Delta Air Lines last fall. He says the landing fee could cause the numbers to fall farther.

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Information from: The Island Packet, http://www.islandpacket.com