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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

  • In 2012, U.S. airlines moved more than 48,000 tons of cargo per day

  • In 2012, the value of a kilogram of U.S. merchandise exported by air averaged 121 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

  • In 2011, U.S. airlines carried 16 percent more passengers and cargo using 10 percent less fuel than in 2000

  • Domestically, airlines drive 5% of economic activity but account for 2% of man-made GHG emissions

  • From 2000-2011, airlines reduced GHG emissions by 11% while transporting 16% more passengers and cargo

  • From 1975-2011, U.S. airlines and their partners reduced significant noise exposure by 99%

  • 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 2000-2012, U.S. airlines improved the on-time arrival rate from 72.6% to 81.9%

  • From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines reduced the flight cancellation rate sharply from 3.30% to 1.29%

  • Airfares are a bargain: From 2000-2012, U.S. CPI rose 33% while average domestic fare rose just 14%

  • Adjusted for inflation, the average round-trip domestic airfare fell 15% from 2000

  • 2007 domestic flight delays cost the United States approximately $31 billion

  • In 2012, the value of U.S. merchandise exported by air reached an all-time high of $427B

  • In 2012, U.S. exports of air-travel services reached an all-time high of $39.5B, driving a $5.1B trade surplus

  • In 2012, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines spent more than $50B on fuel, averaging 36% of operating expenses

  • In 2012, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of mishandled baggage ever recorded

  • FAA projects U.S. air travel demand to top 1 billion passengers in 2027

  • In 2012, US airlines flew 83.4 million passengers in scheduled international service - a record high

  • In 2012, the total value of merchandise exported from or imported to the United States by air exceeded $927 billion

  • In 2012, 7.15 teragrams of merchandise was exported from or imported to the United States by air

 Public Policy A4A Letters

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PubZone1
A4A corresponds frequently with government entities. Here you will find letters that A4A has sent on behalf of our members.  At select times, A4A joins with other organizations when we share a common advocacy interest. This section includes coalition letters that A4A was a party to on a variety of issues.

Letter to Congressman Brown Regarding CBP Reimbursement (3/13/2013)
Letter to Congressman Brown Regarding CBP Reimbursement
A4A Letter to Democratic National Committee (DNC) regarding need for party platforms (8/10/2012)
A4A wrote the Democratic National Committee, urging that the party include a National Airline Policy as part of their platform.
A4A Letter to Republican National Committee (RNC) regarding need for party platforms (8/10/2012)
A4A wrote the Republican National Committee, urging that the party include a National Airline Policy as part of their party platform.
A4A Commends Congressman Joe Walsh on Introducing H.R. 6028, the No-Hassle Flying Act of 2012 (7/25/2012)
A4A commends Congressman Walsh on H.R. 6028 which would give the TSA discretion to certify foreign airports as meeting TSA security standards, making traveling to the U.S. better for customers while maintaining the highest level of security.
A4A Responds to Chairman Issa and Chairman Jordan Regarding Regulations That Have Harmed Job Growth in the Aviation Industry (6/5/2012)
A4A CEO Nick Calio responds to a recent letter from Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) identifying the most costly and burdensome aviation regulations that undercut our ability to compete globally and create U.S. airline jobs.
A4A Writes the FAA to Discuss the Fuel Tank Flammability Reduction Means (FRM) Rule. (4/13/2012)
A4A has notified FAA of a significant delay in the availability of service instructions that operators need to start retrofitting fuel tank inerting kits, and has asked FAA to extend the regulatory deadlines for retrofitting kits.
A4A Commends FAA Modernization and Reform Act (2/6/2012)
A4A today commended Congress for its bipartisan leadership in passing the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
A4A Letter to The Senate in Support of FAA Reauthorization (2/3/2012)
A4A CEO Nick Calio commends the US Senate for coming to an agreement on the FAA reauthorization bill
A4A Letter to The House of Representatives in Support of FAA Reauthorization (2/2/2012)
A4A CEO Nick Calio commends Congress for coming to an agreement on the FAA reauthorization bill
A4A Thanks Congressman Reid Ribble for Introducing the Regulatory Moratorium and Jobs Preservation Act of 2011 (1/17/2012)
A4A writes Congressman Ribble in support of H.R. 2898, a bill that will help promote the economic viability competitiveness of the aviation industry.
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PubZone2
A4A advocates measures to support aviation safety, security and well-being.

What the Experts Say:
“It makes absolutely no sense at a time when we should be encouraging economic and business development enabled by travel and tourism, that we would discourage flying by trying to balance the budget on the backs of airline customers with yet another tax.”
Nicholas E. Calio, president and CEO, A4A

​A4A press release

02/13/2012
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1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1100 | Washington, DC 20004
T: 202.626.4000 | E: a4a@airlines.org

For more information about the National Airline Policy campaign visit:
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Twitter: @Natl_Air_Policy
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