SMALL AIRCRAFT EXEMPTION FROM AQI FEES EXPIRES APRIL 1, 2025
March 27, 2025
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Air carriers are reminded that the small aircraft exemption from Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection (“AQI”) user fees expires on April 1, 2025. For reference, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (“APHIS”) published a final rule in May 2024 which implemented a new user fee structure for the AQI program. Prior to the rulemaking, the commercial aircraft user fee was not applied to the international arrivals of certain commercial aircraft with 64 or fewer seats (i.e., the small aircraft exemption) but the rule removed the exemption. APHIS delayed the effective date for removal until April 1, 2025 to provide sufficient time for operators to come into compliance. Please note the exemption removal only affects international arrivals because domestic flights are not subject to the commercial aircraft fee.
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