Beginning October 1, international passengers arriving via commercial aircraft are subject to an increased user fee assessed by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Commercial air carriers, including part 135 on-demand operators, must collect and remit the Air Passenger User Fee for passengers arriving in the United States at the new rate of $7.39 per passenger (unless an exemption applies).
There are only a few exceptions to the fee. Passengers exempt from the fee generally include those arriving from U.S territories and possessions, defined as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The rule detailing the commercial passenger fee and its exemptions can be found at 19 CFR 24.22(g).
Operators should note that this passenger user fee is separate from, and in addition to, other fees that may apply to international arrivals into the United States. This could include fees charged for customs services at Customs User Fee Airports, or similar passenger fees imposed for immigration or agricultural purposes. CBP requires carriers to remit collected fees on a quarterly basis. Additional information on the CBP passenger arrival fee, including remittance details, is available on the CBP webpage. Operators with questions can contact jrosser@nata.aero or the CBP contacts listed on their user fee webpage.