Sen. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, Democrats of Hawaii, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican of Alaska, introduced legislation Wednesday that would exempt Hawaii, Alaska and “communities that rely on essential air service as subsidized” by the U.S. Department of Transportation, from the increase in air travel fees included in the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2013.
“This exemption would protect interisland flights in Hawaii and intrastate flights in Alaska from increased air travel fees, which have more than doubled from $2.50 to $5.60 per,” according to a press release.
“Raising air travel fees puts an unfair burden on the people of Hawaii for whom air travel is essential and I will continue to oppose such increases,” Hirono said. “Hawaii residents and visitors have no real alternative to commercial interisland flights to meet their everyday transportation needs, from flying to receive health care, visit family, or on business. …”
Said Schatz, “Air travel is a necessity, not a luxury, in our island state. Rising TSA fees put an unfair burden on Hawaii residents who depend on air travel for work, health care, and to visit family. …”
Said Murkowski, “Whether you’re an Alaskan on the ‘milk run’ or trying to get into a hub from off the road system, logistics means that we need multiple legs on different airlines to get to your destination. …”
There are no railway, trucking or bus systems connecting Hawaii to other states or between the islands, and only a limited ferry service in Maui County.
In Alaska, as the press release points out, “air travel is often the most efficient way to travel between communities, especially in remote areas.”
