At U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Foundation’s 13th Annual Aviation Summit, A4A Calls For Air Traffic Control System Reform, Other Changes

Airlines for America (A4A) joined member executives from Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., American Airlines Group, Delta Air Lines, Federal Express Corporation, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines this week 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industry to push toward a holistic National Airline Policy which expedites the implementation of NextGen, reforms an outdated air traffic control system and rationalizes the rising federal tax and regulatory burdens.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 (pictured) 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.

FMI: www.airlines.org