Calio Reiterates Chairman's Call For Common-Sense Tax Reform

Industry trade organization Airlines for America (A4A) applauded House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) for outlining the strategic importance of the U.S. aviation industry to American jobs and our overall economy. Following Shuster’s speech to the International Aviation Club, where he outlined a bold vision to strengthen the aviation industry, A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio stressed the airlines commitment to working with the Chairman, and all Members of Congress, to ensure the U.S. airline industry can continue to drive the economy and jobs.

Shuster noted that aviation is a critical segment of our economy that provides millions of American jobs, and is responsible for over a trillion dollars in economic activity every year.

Calio (pictured) applauded Chairman Shuster’s recognition that foreign governments treat their airlines as a strategic asset to drive economic growth, and noted that the U.S. government and economy would benefit from doing the same.

“We are not asking the U.S. government to put its thumb on the scale on our behalf, but rather to implement common-sense policies that allow the entire aviation industry to fulfill its potential to generate good paying jobs, benefit communities that depend on us and present even more formidable competition to our global challengers,” said Calio.

Calio also reiterated Shuster’s calls for common-sense tax reform, noting the overwhelming federal tax burden facing the industry. Air travel is actually taxed at a higher federal rate than “sin” products like alcohol and tobacco, which are taxed to discourage use. Over the past four decades, the tax burden on a typical $300 round-trip ticket has nearly tripled from $22 to $61.

“Chairman Shuster’s call for common-sense tax reform, and not treating airlines like piggy banks, is a welcome message to an industry sending $19 billion in taxes to the federal government each year,” said Calio. “We look forward to continuing discussion with Chairman Shuster about ways to achieve our shared goal of keeping America as the world leader in aviation.”

FMI: www.airlines.org