Airline to add surcharge for flights out of LAX
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
United Airlines announced Wednesday that it has added a $10 surcharge to tickets for flights originating in Los Angeles.
The increase will offset a $10-million annual increase in fees to maintain the company’s leaseholds at Los Angeles International Airport, the airline said.
“The sharp increase in our ... costs is in clear violation of our long-term lease, and we need to recover those costs,” said Megan McCarthy, a United spokeswoman.
The city’s airport agency said the fee increases, now the subject of a lawsuit by airlines, are necessary in part to offset a jump in security costs since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
In a statement Wednesday, the agency said United’s surcharge “wildly exceeds” the airline’s increased costs.
