I think it's because it's still consider domestic airspace (out to 200 miles from the coast) whereas Hawaii is slighty further out than 200 miles. I believe the 8% (or is it 10% now?) tax also applies to a buffer zone in Canada that is within 225 miles of the US border. ----- Original Message ----- From: "W Wilson" <wlw-jr@att.net> To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 17:03 Subject: Re: [AIRLINE] [Sky-1] JetBlue to announce San Juan service! > I certainly don't doubt this wacky way of collecting fees and doing > business, but I have a question about the last sentence when "international" > destinations are not involved. The international taxes are only charged due > to the destination or origination being <Hawaii> (in this case) and flying > in international airspace? This compared to a flight say... from JFK to MIA > that enjoys a trek along an overwater route which would not be charged > international taxes? Flights JFK to MIA are purely domestic in nature, and > there would be no way to know in advance whether dispatch may or may not > route the flight over the international airspace of the Atlantic Routes. > > Walter > DCA > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Ross" <damiross@earthlink.net> > To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> > Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 18:46 > Subject: Re: [Sky-1] JetBlue to announce San Juan service! > > > > For the same reason they charge a dep/arr tax to/from Hawaii. > > On flights to/from Hawaii, the full tax is not paid; rather a prorated > > amount is charged based upon the distance that the flight is over the > > contigous (48 state) area and the distance over Hawaii. Clear as mud, eh? > > Example time: Say the flight leaves a point 100 miles from the edge of US > > airspace, flies 2200 miles over the ocean, then flies another 5 miles in > US > > airspace in Hawaii. The tax is prorated to be 105 miles divided 2305 > > (100+2200+5) miles. Thus, the tax is about 4.5% of the full tax. Then, > > because the flight goes into international airspace, international taxes > > (not prorated, of course) are charged. > >