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  • 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

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PubZone1
​A4A participates as a litigant or amicus curiae in litigation matters concerning a wider range of legal and regulatory issues having a significant policy or precedential impact on the industry. In this section, you will find A4A briefs and other filings in these important cases.

A4A EU ETS Lawsuit Defines Clear Path for Government Action (3/27/2012)
A4A today appropriately ended its private lawsuit against the EU ETS and urged the administration to accelerate its work to reverse this unilateral tax.
A4A Members Challenge German Departure Tax (3/21/2012)
A4A today filed an initial legal complaint to reject the German Air Transport Tax, which illegally penalizes carriers serving the country by taxing U.S. airlines the maximum amount of 45 euros (US$59) per passenger.
A4A Legal Challenge of German Departure Tax (3/21/2012)
A4A today filed an initial legal complaint to reject the German Air Transport Tax, which illegally penalizes carriers serving the country by taxing U.S. airlines the maximum amount of 45 euros (US$59) per passenger.
A4A Commends DOT Secretary LaHood for Leadership In Fighting the EU ETS (3/9/2012)
A4A today commended DOT Secretary Ray LaHood for his unwavering support and efforts to overturn the application of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) to U.S. airlines and aircraft operators.
A4A Commends Bipartisan Support of Senate EU ETS Bill (3/7/2012)
A4A today commended Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) for co-sponsoring a bill that would prohibit U.S. aircraft operators from participating in EU ETS because the scheme violates U.S. sovereignty and international law.
A4A Comment on European Court of Justice Decision (12/21/2011)
A4A today issued the following statement regarding the decision of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on A4A’s legal challenge to the unilateral application of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) to international aviation.
Airlines for America (A4A) Commends Senate Opposition of EU ETS (12/7/2011)
A4A today commended Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) for introducing a bill that would prohibit U.S. aircraft operators from participating in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
ATA v. Ex-Im Bank (11/18/2011)
ATA today filed suit against the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) to halt a pending deal for $3.4 billion in loan guarantees for aircraft financing to Air India.
ATA Supports Bill to Improve U.S. Visa Process (9/26/2011)
ATA commended Congressman Joe Heck (R-NV) for his work in making travel to the United States easier.
ATA Argues that the EU ETS should be found contrary to international law and invalid (7/5/2011)
Before the European Court of Justice (ECJ), ATA called for the European Union application of an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to be dismissed and declared illegal. The action was brought on behalf of all of its members, argued that aviation greenhouse...
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PubZone2
A4A advocates measures to support aviation safety, security and well-being.

What the Experts Say:
“We appreciate the hard work of Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Democratic House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, who negotiated a bipartisan agreement that ensures increased transparency in the Ex-Im Bank’s lending practices, and calls for greater economic impact analysis of loans and would implement other important reforms, and we urge passage of the agreement.”
Nicholas E. Calio, president and CEO, A4A

​A4A press release

05/05/2012
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