Air Transport Association Applauds Chairman Mica Moving Forward an FAA Bill Supporting Airline Global Competitiveness

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today commended the leadership of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica for passing an FAA reauthorization bill that enables airlines to compete globally without additional taxes and regulatory burdens.  

"ATA applauds Chairman Mica for passing a good bill that recognizes and supports the contributions commercial aviation makes to the global economy, driving 11 million jobs and $1.1 trillion in annual economic activity while not further burdening airlines and their customers, who already shoulder more than their fair share of taxes. We also appreciate the leadership of Chairmen Mica and Petri and Rep. Cravaack in defeating amendments that would have hindered progress on global aviation safety and threatened U.S. jobs, understanding that global carriers need to be able to repair and maintain aircraft around the world," said ATA President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. "Congress has an opportunity to pass a bill that both prioritizes a NextGen air traffic management system and holds the FAA accountable for meeting NextGen performance metrics, ultimately enabling the airline industry to contribute even more to the global economy, increase jobs and improve safety and customer satisfaction; the time is now to move the bill forward."

ABOUT ATA

Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For more information about the airline industry, visit www.airlines.org and follow us on Twitter @airlinesassn.

SOURCE Air Transport Association