A4A looks to transformational change in airline industry.
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Press Release Summary:
At Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 13th Annual Aviation Summit, entitled, "Navigating the True Costs of Flying," A4A joined member executives to identify major challenges facing the industry. President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio called for transformational change and leadership within government and the airline industry to push toward holistic National Airline Policy which expedites implementation of NextGen, reforms outdated ATC system, and rationalizes rising federal tax and regulatory burdens.
Original Press Release:
A4A Looks to Transformational Change in the Airline Industry at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's 13th Annual Aviation
A4A calls for air traffic control system reform and commends bipartisan efforts to work toward an FAA reauthorization that would return the U.S. to its position as the world’s aviation leader
WASHINGTON, – Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, joined member executives from American Airlines Group, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., Delta Air Lines, Federal Express Corporation, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines today to identify the major challenges facing the industry at the Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 13th Annual Aviation Summit, entitled, “Navigating the True Costs of Flying,” in Washington, D.C.
In his keynote address, President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio examined the costs and benefits of commercial aviation and called for transformational change and leadership within government and the airline industry to push toward a holistic National Airline Policy which expedites the implementation of NextGen, reforms an outdated air traffic control system and rationalizes the rising federal tax and regulatory burdens.
“Given the way Congress has moved from crisis to crisis on must-do financial legislation, a comprehensive policy push like the establishment of a holistic National Airline Policy needs an action-forcing event,” said Calio. “We believe the next FAA Reauthorization bill can be such an event. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and their counterparts Reps. Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Rick Larsen (D-WA) have banded together and are reaching out to all stakeholders to work toward an FAA Reauthorization bill that is in their words, transformational -- that’s just the kind of leadership, aspiration and vision we need to be the world leader within our industry once again.”
Calio highlighted the need to reform the air traffic control system and lack of progress in implementing NextGen, a 21st century, satellite-based system, which airlines have already invested hundreds of millions in yet are still waiting to see put to use for airline customers.
“Air traffic control reform can provide a broad-based approach to changing the governance, financing and delivery of service to travelers and suppliers,” said Calio. “Putting a new framework in place would be a long-overdue first step toward creating a system that is not dependent on an annual funding cycle that furloughs our air traffic controllers and leads to consistent delays.”
Calio noted this would be a critical step in correcting the program management and execution issues which have impeded progress to date, crippling the U.S. airline industry’s global competitiveness and progress.
“So, with great hope, onward toward transformational change in our industry,” said Calio.
ABOUT A4A
Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and more than 10 million U.S. jobs. A4A airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. America needs a cohesive National Airline Policy that will support the integral role the nation’s airlines play in connecting people and goods globally, spur the nation’s economic growth and create more high-paying jobs.
For more information about the airline industry, visit www.airlines.org and follow us on Twitter @airlinesdotorg.
For more information about the National Airline Policy campaign visit: www.nationalairlinepolicy.com, Twitter: @Natl_Air_Policy and Facebook: facebook.com/nationalairlinepolicy.
