Environment

Commercial aviation helps drive more than 10M American jobs and 5 cents of every dollar of U.S. GDP
Commercial aviation drives more than $1 trillion per year in economic activity
U.S. airlines move 50,000 tons of cargo per day
In 2011, the average value of a kilogram of U.S. merchandise exported by air was 117 times the value exported by sea
For every 100 airline jobs, some 360 are supported outside of the airline industry
Federal taxes constitute $61 – or 20% – of the price of a typical $300 domestic round-trip ticket
From 2000-2010, U.S. airlines carried 15% more traffic while using 2.1 billion fewer gallons of fuel
Domestically, airlines drive 5% of economic activity but account for 2% of man-made GHG emissions
From 2000-2010, airlines reduced GHG emissions by 10% while transporting 15% more passengers and cargo
From 1975-2010, the number of U.S. residents exposed to significant noise levels fell 95%
Commercial air travel is the safest form of intercity transportation in the United States
In the most recent decade, scheduled air service on U.S. airlines was seven times safer than in the 1970s
From 2000-2010, U.S. airlines improved the on-time arrival rate from 72.6% to 79.8%
From 2000-2010, U.S. airlines halved the flight cancellation rate from 3.30% to 1.76%
Airfares are a bargain: From 2000-2010, U.S. CPI rose 27% while average domestic fare (excl. taxes) rose just 1%
Adjusted for inflation, the average round-trip domestic fare in 2010 fell 21% (from $398 to $316) compared to 2000
2007 domestic flight delays cost the United States approximately $31 billion
In 2011, the value of U.S. merchandise exported by air reached an all-time high of $424B
In 2011, U.S. exports of air-travel services reached an all-time high of $36.7B, driving the largest trade surplus in this category since 1992
In 2011, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines spent $50.5B on fuel, up $11.7B ($32M/day) from 2010
In 2011, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of mishandled baggage ever recorded
In 2011, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of involuntary denied boardings ever recorded
In 4Q 2011, U.S. airlines posted the second-lowest quarterly on-time arrival rate ever recorded
FAA projects U.S. air travel demand to top 1 billion passengers in 2024
In 2011, US airlines flew 80 million passengers in scheduled international service- a record high
In 2011, US airlines flew at 241.2 billion revenue passenger miles in scheduled international service- a record high
In 2011, US airlines operated 299.9 billion available seat miles in scheduled international service- a record high

	Environment
	PubZone1 Airlines for America (A4A) member airlines have a strong record of environmental protection and are committed to continual environmental improvement in all areas. A4A member airlines are dedicating hundreds of billions of dollars to the purchase of new, fuel-efficient aircraft, developing alternative fuels and improving operational performance, which will further reduce aircraft emissions and noise. Emissions A4A member airlines have long-standing commitment to improving fuel efficiency and, therefore, reducing their carbon footprint. Since 1978, A4A airlines have improved fuel efficiency by 115 percent, which has resulted in over 3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions savings – the equivalent of taking over 20 million cars of the road annually. That is why the U.S. airlines account for only 2 percent of the nation’s man-made CO2 emissions while contributing more than 5 percent of U.S. GDP. A4A member airlines are not stopping there. They have committed to a global sectoral approach to aviation climate change policy under the International Civil Aviation Organization and are promoting critical technology, air traffic management, energy and infrastructure advances to meet aggressive goals for further fuel efficiency improvements and emissions reduction. In fact, a more efficient air traffic management system alone could trim fuel use and carbon emissions by 10 percent to 15 percent. Alternative Fuels A4A airlines are committed to the development/deployment of commercially viable, environmentally friendly alternative fuels. In 2006, A4A co-founded the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative® (CAAFI) to hasten the production and deployment of such fuels, which has now become a reality. Sustainable alternative aviation fuels promise to bring significant lifecycle emissions reductions relative to petroleum-based fuels. A4A members today fly commercial flights using alternative fuels. Noise A4A airlines have a strong record of addressing noise concerns. Today, commercial aircraft are more than six times quieter than they were 40 years ago. Federal Aviation Administration data confirm that from 1975 to 2010, the number of people in the U.S. exposed to significant noise levels fell 95 percent while enplanements rose 247 percent. In addition to purchasing ever quieter aircraft, [A4A] members continue to pioneer flight procedures, like continuous descent approaches, which further reduce noise exposure. Our Commitment to Continuous Improvement Building on a record of environmental excellence, A4A airlines remain committed to continuous environmental improvement – driving technology, operations and infrastructure toward further noise and emissions savings. It is critical that governments work with us through policies that support, rather than impede, airline environmental progress. PubZone2	A4A advocates measures to support aviation safety, security and well-being.