Not-so-friendly skies United strikes back at proposed jet fuel tax.

The introduction of a 4-cent jet fuel tax could impede the state's economic progress, according to some executives and business advocates.

On Sept. 14, the Senate Transportation Committee voted 4-1 to advance a measure, Senate Bill 2892, that would raise taxes on any airline that carries over 8 million passengers a year a distinction only United Airlines currently holds in the state to help fund a $1.7 billion PATH extension to Newark.

Among those in favor of the bill is Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-3rd District.

Jill Kaplan, president of the New York/New Jersey region for United since the beginning of the year, said the rule unfairly targets the airline.

"I have to admit, I'm puzzled," Kaplan testified during the Sept. 13 committee meeting on the bill. "We are committed to being a good partner and investing in New Jersey's future. And yet, we are opposing a bill that unduly penalizes United."

Kevin Brown, director of the New Jersey chapter of Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ, said United, which controls a large majority of the landing slots at Newark Liberty International Airport, has not been paying its fair share of taxes to the state. Under current law only jet fuel burned during taxiing and takeoff is taxed.

"United has shown that it does not intend to share its progress with communities that enable its growth in Newark [airport]," Brown testified at the committee session. "United has taken full advantage of this tax loophole that has cost the state millions of dollars each year."

"The rest of the country has higher jet fuel taxes for a reason," he added. "They support our local economies. There's no reason to provide such expensive tax breaks to the airlines."

Kaplan has maintained that United does not receive any sort of tax break, and instead pays the same rate as any other airline in the state.

She has also pointed to a variety of local investments United has made as evidence the airline has gone above and beyond to help the local community.

"United has made $2 billion in unsubsidized investments at Newark Liberty International Airport since 2000, nearly $400 million over the last two years, and just this past July announced two new community partnership grants totaling $1 million to support workforce redevelopment programs in Newark and Elizabeth," Kaplan said.

And on top of that, United has over 14,000 employees in New Jersey, Kaplan said.

"United now has two-thirds of the business at Newark airport and...