Hearings scheduled for new airport fee

Advertiser Staff

The state Department of Transportation will hold public hearings Tuesday and Wednesday on whether to adopt a $4.50 per passenger fee to pay for security improvements and other projects.

The fee, which would not apply to interisland flights, would go into a special fund created by the state Legislature to increase airport safety, capacity and competition.

Congress created the passenger facility charge in the early 1990s, however, Hawai'i has yet to adopt such a fee.

If the initiative receives public support, it would still need federal approval. If approved, the fee isn't expected to take effect until around October 2004.

Hearings will be held at:

• 9 a.m. Tuesday at Honolulu International Airport, Seventh Floor in the Airport Conference Center.

• 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Lihu'e (Kaua'i) Airport, Third Floor in the Airport Mezzanine Conference Room.

• 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Kahului (Maui) Airport, Airport Conference Room.

• 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Kona (Big Island) International Airport at Keahole, in the Airport Conference Room.