The Upper Cumberland Regional Airport Board voted Tuesday to approve a new fee on larger aircraft that don’t buy fuel.
Airport Manager Dean Selby said the issue arose recently after three aircraft have stopped in the last couple weeks while still using their services, including cleaning, rental cars, or lounge areas.
“More and more airports are doing this, they’re charging a fee. To waive the fee, they’re raising their minimum fuel purchase,” Selby said. “So what I’ve had is aircraft stopping and going, ‘well, I don’t want to buy fuel, I’m going to wait until I get to wherever I’m going to next so I don’t have to pay their fee since you don’t already have one.’ If we have a fee, then maybe they’ll start buying fuel instead of just waiting at the next airport to buy it.”
Selby said the fee would only apply to aircraft weighing over 5,000 lbs. The fee can be waived if the plane does purchase fuel while stationed at the airport.
“It’s a minimal fee for them, it’s like $40 I believe, all the way up through a DC9, MD-80, 737. Those would have a $300 fee,” Selby said. “But it’s waived with fuel purchases so as long as they purchase fuel, they’re contributing to the airport. We’re making enough off of them to cover their expenses and us doing these kinds of services for them.”
The Board voted unanimously to implement the fee.
