I'm going to guess it's the result of AOPA complaints and responsive lobbying lobbying by the major FBOs.
However, it is important to keep in mind that airport sponsors may take into account additional factors that can influence pricing, including (1) capital
investment of the FBO in physical facilities; (2) long-term financial commitment to operate an FBO; (3)positive economic impacts the FBO may have at the airport; (4) prevailing labor supply and correspondingrates, fuel inventory levels, and costs; (5) Federal and local policy requirements; (6) insurance
requirements; (7) safety and related technical training initiatives; and (8) increases in rents and other feespaid by the FBO.
I know that's an issue FBOs have raised. I'm somewhat familiar with those first two. Major FBOs can be heavily invested in building and maintaining airport infrastructure; the may have built the ramp areas and are required by direct or subleasing agreements to maintain them. Pricing may reflect an attempt to get a return on their capital investment.
The FAA is seeing an uptick in Part 13 complaints regarding high prices at FBOs, presumably as a result of AOPA's efforts to fight high fees at consolidated FBO chains.
