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Airlines reinstate collection of federal excise tax for air cargo

New coronavirus aid package includes payroll support for airlines; other CARES Act benefits didn’t carry over

Airlines are once again applying the federal excise tax to cargo shipments. (Photo: Delta Air Lines)

Airlines operating in the U.S. are once again collecting the federal excise tax on freight shipments that were suspended for most of last year to help the industry survive the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The $2.2 trillion economic stimulus package known as the CARES Act provided an aviation tax holiday from March 28 through the end of 2020. Airlines were not required to charge the 6.25% tax on goods shipped by air or the 7.25% tax on passenger tickets, as well as other passenger fees, as a way to help attract customers. During that period, the government also did not impose excise taxes on jet fuel.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), and other carriers, have notified customers that the federal excise tax is being applied to cargo, effective Jan. 1.

The Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation last April estimated the suspension of aviation excise taxes would reduce federal revenues by $4 billion. 


“We are immensely appreciative of all federal relief efforts, including the temporary suspension of certain aviation excise taxes, during the most challenging crisis in the history of the U.S. airline industry,” Airlines for America said in a statement provided to FreightWaves. “U.S. airlines have always been critical to our nation’s economy and infrastructure, and we look forward to helping lead the country’s economic recovery.”

On Dec. 28, President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion follow-on relief bill that included an extension of the Payroll Support Program, with $15 billion for airlines. Under the first dose of emergency aid, passenger airlines received $25 billion through the end of September to prevent layoffs and cargo airlines received $4 billion.

The new law provides payroll assistance through March 31. Airlines that planned to downsize their workforces because of the severe downturn in passenger business rescinded layoff notices. United Airlines (NASDQ: UAL) and American Airlines (NASDQ: AAL) recalled 32,000 workers furloughed since Oct. 1 and reset pay and benefits to Dec. 1. 

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. 


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Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Supply Chain and Air Cargo Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals and a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government and trade coverage, and news analysis. He was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He won Environmental Journalist of the Year from the Seahorse Freight Association in 2014 and was the group's 2013 Supply Chain Journalist of the Year. In December 2022, he was voted runner up for Air Cargo Journalist by the Seahorse Freight Association. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. Eric is based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached for comments and tips at [email protected]