AOPA contests fee increase at Westchester County Airport

The fee at the White Plains, New York, FBO was announced to increase from $375 per month to $800 by October 2026. Immediately after learning of the increase, AOPA connected with Million Air to request the FBO’s “justification” for the fee increase while also communicating with the airport sponsor to learn what explanation had been provided. According to Westchester County Director of Aviation April Gasparri, the review of the FBO's justification is ongoing.

Million Air took over the lease at Westchester County approximately 10 years ago and decided to freeze rates for piston tiedown tenants, which have remained at $375 per month since. Million Air sent out an email in mid-August to tenants indicating rates would increase to $800. Within 24 hours,the FBO retracted the initial rate hike in favor of a $600-per-month rate effective October 2025 that will increase $50 each quarter thereafter, reaching $800 in October 2026, after which rates will be adjusted based on the local consumer price index.

Excessive and unreasonable pricing inhibits access to publicly funded airports. When a public airport like Westchester County defers general aviation services to an FBO, the responsibility falls on the airport sponsor, as the grant-obligated entity, to ensure FBO pricing is fair and reasonable. This makes adjustments in pricing made by FBOs more challenging to mitigate because of a lack of publicly available financial justification.

“AOPA does not believe Million Air’s egregious $800 tiedown fee is fair and reasonable, no matter what justification is provided. Airports that receive federal funds are required to ensure all fees imposed on users of the airport are fair and reasonable, including FBO fees,” said AOPA Eastern Regional Manager Sean Collins.

AOPA has proposed the creation of a sponsor-controlled ramp for light GA tenants and transient aircraft seeking ”no frill” access in a letter to Gasparri. The FAA allows airports that receive federal funding to operate and maintain public-use ramps, and they can charge users amounts that reflect the cost to operate and maintain the ramp. AOPA believes all public-use airports should offer pilots this option.

The right to fair and reasonable fees is a priority for AOPA, as pilots across the country are already facing unreasonable and unnecessary fees for parking or using facilities at many FBOs. AOPA will continue to advocate for tenants at Westchester County to ensure that tiedown pricing remains fair and reasonable.