PITTSBURGH Airport officials weigh raising fees to fund upgrades

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Travelers at Pittsburgh International Airport may be asked to pay a higher passenger fee to help pay for improvements designed to keep US Airways at the airport.
The Allegheny County Airport Authority is considering raising the $3 fee it charges each passenger to $4.50 to offset improvements at the airport, requested by US Airways to keep its hub there.
The Federal Aviation Administration also would have to approve the increase, said Kent George, the airport's executive director.
The airport collects about $24 million in passenger fees a year. The increase would garner an additional $12 million.
The Arlington, Va.-based airline is seeking $155 million in airport improvements or it may not base its new MidAtlantic Airways regional jet subsidiary in Pittsburgh.
Airport officials have selected about $70 million among the improvements US Airways wants that could be used by other airlines should US Airways leave. They include gates that can accommodate smaller regional jets, a training center and a hangar for the smaller airplanes.
"The money we are putting on the table would be enormously helpful in making the airport more attractive to other airlines," Gov. Ed Rendell said.