U.S. CUSTOMS RAISES AIRPORT USER FEES

   U.S. Customs announced that fees charged to "user-fee" airports for
Customs inspection services will be increased by Oct. 1.
   The fees are based on costs incurred by Customs to purchase equipment,
training and staff one Customs inspector on a full-time basis.
   User-fee airports are those airports that have international flights,
but do not meet the regulatory requirements to be a Customs port entry.
There are 33 airports that fall under this category, such as Centennial
Airport in Colorado, Florida’s Daytona Beach International and Midland
International in Texas.
   The initial fee charged to a user-fee airport will increase from
$105,000 to $111,500, and the annual fee will increase from $78,500 to
$80,000.
   "This increase is based on an annual analysis made by Customs to ensure
it is being reimbursed for actual cost of services rendered," the agency
said.