By Oliver Clark.

The president of ACI North America has pledged his association's support for a lobby group's proposal to scrap the current limit on Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) to help spur economic growth and develop critical airport infrastructure.

Responding to the Democratic Critical Infrastructure and Manufacturing Task Force's newly unveiled aviation agenda that calls on Congress to reauthorise the FAA to be able to change the $4.50 PFC cap and so "increase the efficiency of our air transportation system, reduce delays, and improve safety", Greg Principato said he would strive to turn the proposal "into reality'.

"Airports take very seriously their critical role as an economic engine for their community which is why your proposal calling for airports to be given the flexibility to collect the revenue necessary to improve our facilites is a welcome one," Principato said in an open letter to members of the task force which tries to influence policy in Congress.

Principato was echoing comments he made in a speech in April at the Airport Cities conference in Memphis in which he said US airports risked falling behind their global competitors unless they gained access to more funds for modernisation.

Last week the head of ACI NA made the same point to Democrats senators after he and Las Vegas airport director Randy Walker were invited to speak to the US Senate Democratic Policy Steering Group, in which he said: "By capping the PFC user fee, this country is leaving billions on the table that could be invested in our future."