Sky Harbor ticket surcharge delayed; city tries trust fund. (Sky Harbor International Airport; Phoenix, Arizona)

A controversial proposed surcharge of up to $12 a ticket on most Sky Harbor International Airport flights has been delayed as officials try instead to get money for a third runway from a tightly held federal aviation trust fund.

The city of Phoenix, which runs the airport, said in January of last year that it would seek federal approval to impose a surcharge of $3 to $12 a ticket for up to five years to raise most of the $138 million necessary to build a third runway at airport.

The charge was to have begun in August. But city officials have delayed filing an application until early 1993 for the extra ticket charge, hoping that money can be obtained from the U.S. Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which is partially funded by a 10 …