United exploits passengers at LAX

Los Angeles World Airports blasted United Airlines for its plan to levy a $10 surcharge on passengers flying from LAX, saying the increase “wildly exceeds” UA’s share of a “justified increase in its maintenance and operation costs.” LAWA said UA enplaned 4.9 million passengers at LAX last year. Assuming the same level of traffic in 2007, it would collect nearly five times the $10 million rent increase it blamed for the new policy. It said the carrier was “exploiting” the rent hike “in order to dramatically increase profits” on its LAX operation. UA did not issue a response. LAWA said it “has the right to pass along increases in its costs of operating the terminals,” adding that it has “largely shouldered the increased security-related costs” since 2001. “The subsidization of these costs on behalf of the air carriers has become onerous and unfair,” the airport operator concluded.