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TSA security fee to increase Monday

CHARLOTTE — Transportation Security Administration passenger screening fee -- also known as the September 11 security fee -- will more than double to $5.60 per flight leg Monday, with no cap.

The current fee is $2.50 for a non-stop flight or $5 for a connecting flight. The new fee will be $5.60 for all flights, with any connection longer than four hours counting as a separate flight.

A TSA spokesperson released the following statement about the increase on Sunday, saying "As required by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, TSA has submitted an interim final rule to the Federal Register to restructure the September 11 Security Fee. In accordance with Federal Law, the revenue generated from the security fee will be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. The revenue is to be used to offset TSA costs for providing civil aviation security services, after stipulated amounts are applied to reduction of the Federal deficit."

According to the New York Times
, the TSA increase will raise an additional $16.91 billion over the next decade. About 65 percent of collected fees will fund security screenings, while the remaining funds will go to the general fund.