The US Government Accountability Office has found that online fuel prices at general aviation fixed-base operators are generally easy to obtain and usually match phone quotes, while information on required service fees and special-event charges remains far less visible. The review covered 45 FBOs at 40 airports and focused on how transparent operators are for pilots planning trips and comparing costs across the US general aviation market.
The study was carried out under a requirement in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to assess efforts to improve online price and fee disclosure. GAO examined whether publicly posted information aligned with covert phone inquiries and found that some larger multi-location FBO groups have improved centralised pricing updates. Even so, online fee schedules were often incomplete, particularly for services that vary by location or demand.
Pilot groups were generally satisfied with the availability of price and fee information, while FAA officials were not aware of formal complaints and FTC officials were not aware of enforcement actions tied to the issue. The findings suggest that fuel pricing has become more transparent, but trip-planning costs can still be difficult to assess fully before arrival.