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George Bush Intercontinental airport in Houston was the only large hub that did not use passenger facility charges (PFC), until this month.
The airport now imposes a $3 PFC because of projected passenger growth, joining the ranks of 29 large hubs in the United States that use the funding mechanism.
Currently, 28 large hubs-airports that enplane more than 1% of nationwide enplanements in a calendar year-charge between $4 and $4.5, with Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International airport charging $3.
In place until 1November 2027, the Houston charge will be used to help finance seven primary capital improvement projects at the airport, including the reconstruction of a portion of Terminal D to accommodate a new pier on the north concourse to increase the number of international gates to nine from six.
PFCs will be also be used to pay off debt on bonds that were issued to finance the 9,000-ft (2,743.2-meter) north parallel east-west runway completed in 2003.
Airport operator Houston Airport System (HAS) estimates Intercontinental PFC revenue will be $58 million next year, a spokesman says.
HAS expects to handle 80 million passengers across Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports by 2020, a 53.8% increase from roughly 52 million passengers this year.
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