Aircraft that make emergency landings at Bermuda International Airport can expect to pay almost double the current landing fee unless they already have an agreement to use the Airport.

The cost of handling the unscheduled arrivals, which often take place outside normal working hours, is the reason the Government is seeking to step up the bill.

The charges have not been increased since March 1996.

Explaining the reasoning behind the move, Tourism and Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said: "Bermuda is often the site of several emergency or unscheduled landings by aircraft.

"What is less known is the tremendous cost these landings occasion and their disproportionate demand on Bermuda's resources.

"Often these diversions are medical or as a result of unruly passengers and therefore require special handling."

As he presented to the House of Assembly a draft of the proposed Civil Airports (Landing Fees) Regulations 2005, he added: "More often than not these diversions occur outside of normal working hours and air traffic controllers as well as the Airport fire department are required at overtime rates of pay to handle the flight."

The proposal is to increase the landing fee from $3.25 to $6.00 per 1,000 pounds of aircraft.

That would mean a typical Boeing 777 airliner with a maximum take-off weight of 297,560 pounds would be charged $1,785.36 compared to the current levied bill of $967.07.

There will be no increase to the charge for scheduled airline companies who already have formal landing agreements at the Airport, or for general aviation, cargo/carrier aircraft and military flights.

Dr. Brown said this type of arrangement is standard practice within the industry and as an example said an American Airlines emergency landing would not incur the proposed higher fee as the company already has an agreement to use the Airport, however a airline company such as Germany's Lufthansa would have to pay the extra amount.

Opposition Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons asked how the Airport's landing fees compare with other similar airports.

Dr. Brown replied that Bermuda's landing rates were pitched "right in the middle so we are there with our competitors", and when asked how much the emergency landings cost the Island said he did not know the actual amount, but added: "All we do know is that it's too much and we need relief. This is a measure to pick up some of the cost."

The House agreed that the draft regulations be approved.