Unpaid landing fees reveal scale of ICE deportation charter flights at Akron-Canton Airport

Akron-Canton Regional Airport says unpaid landing fees are mounting for three charter companies running U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation flights. Invoices released this week show Eastern Airlines (operating Eastern Air Express), Global X and Air Wisconsin owe a combined $46,513 for 148 landings since the end of April, including $33,927 past due for May, June and July. Airport vice president Lisa Dalpiaz said the companies have not communicated with the airport about the late fees. Through Sept. 17, landings rose to 167 after ICE moved flights from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, where the longest runway partially closed for repairs. Flight tracking on FlightAware.com shows Boeing 737s and Airbus A320/A319 aircraft serving routes often ending in Alexandria, Louisiana.