Presidential price tag

Guess how much Trump’s visit cost aviation biz.

President Donald Trump’s four-day visit this past week to Mar-a-Lago cost airports and aviation-related businesses in Palm Beach County more than $250,000 in lost sales, according to a new report.

The county’s aviation department compiled estimates of losses caused by flight restrictions imposed during the president’s weekend trip.

While commercial jet traffic was not significantly disrupted, the number of smaller planes landing at Palm Beach International Airport was reduced by as much as 40 percent, according to the report.

That resulted in a $200,000 loss in fuel sales and $17,000 in lost landing fees and other revenue, according to the report.

While smaller planes can land and take off from the airport when the president visits, those aircraft must submit to stricter security screening.

“We are hopeful that the general aviation community will come to realize that the process is not overly cumbersome and resume their normal operations at PBIA,” Laura Beebe, deputy director of business affairs, wrote to county commissioners.

Lantana Airport was shut

down during Trump’s visit. Jonathan Miller, who runs operations at the airport, put net losses there at $30,000.

When Trump visits, flight training, sightseeing planes and banner-towing operations are grounded within a 30-mile ring around Mar-aLago. That resulted in 17 cancellations of reservations for sightseeing tours at Lantana Airport.

The county is considering doing an economic impact study to determine what the net effect is on business.

Then there is the exposure Palm Beach County receives whenever the president is in town, County Administrator Verdenia Baker said.

“It’s the marketing of Palm Beach County,” she said.

JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES President Donald Trump’s trips to his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach are costing local aviation businesses thousands of dollars in lost revenues.