$5 on Transatlantic Flights : Pan Am Seeks Surcharge for Cost of Added Security

Pan American World Airways says it will seek federal approval to impose a $5 surcharge on tickets for all transatlantic flights to help defray rising security costs. Trans World Airlines says that it also is studying the possibility of adding a security surcharge.

Martin R. Shugrue Jr., Pan Am’s vice chairman and chief operating officer, said that the airline needs the money to help pay for its security program, including implementation of improved security procedures urged by the Federal Aviation Administration.

“We have proposed that a modest one-way security surcharge of $5 be added to all transatlantic passengers carried by Pan American to defray some of the cost that must be incurred,” Shugru1696625775last week.

“Customers will, of course, grouse about the whole (security)

procedure and the delays that result from them, but they will understandably put up with the need for such action,” Shugrue said. He added that he believes “the traveling public will not be intimidated from traveling on airlines who adopt strong security programs.”

TWA spokeswoman Sally C. McElwreath said that a security surcharge “is under consideration , but we have not done anything yet.”

Privately, other aviation industry officials said the fees are necessary because the costs for implementing the FAA’s new security measures, including added guards and more searches of passengers and luggage, will put U.S. airlines at a competitive disadvantage with foreign airlines who will not be subject to the new security procedures.

The surcharge must be approved by the Department of Transportation before it can be imposed.

Meanwhile, FAA Administrator Donald D. Engen has also spoken out about terrorism, saying “this international threat clearly could become a national threat.”

At a breakfast meeting with reporters last week, Engen declined to specify what new security measures his agency recently has recommended to the nation’s airlines, but he said the FAA will continue to aggressively pursue improved security measures.

Engen said that U.S. airlines flying overseas are using security measures that “are very, very adequate” and added that the public should not be afraid to fly.