San Mateo adds landing fee for charter planes

San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved new fees for charter planes landing at the county’s airports in San Carlos and Half Moon Bay.

All charter aircraft operators will immediately begin paying a $75 landing fee in an effort by the county to offset the costs of operations at the airports from increased commuter and charter plane traffic in the past five years, county officials said.

Charter passengers will also be charged $10 per day for a limited number of overnight vehicle parking spaces during a six-month pilot period.

County officials estimate the landing and parking fees will generate about $150,000 in net revenue each year.

The increased commuter and charter operations in recent years has required extra staffing and hours of operations and prompted unanticipated maintenance expenses, according to county officials, who said the $75 fee is consistent with ones at several other airports in the area.