• About A4A
    • About A4A
    • Contact A4A
    • Membership
    • A4A Jobs
    • Airline Industry Jobs
  • A4A Initiatives
    • Safety & Operations
    • Energy & Environment
    • Customers
    • Security
  • Economics & Analysis
    • Aviation & the Economy
    • Traffic & Financial Results
    • Taxes & Fees
    • Special Topics
  • News
    • Releases & Statements
    • Speeches & Testimony
    • Letters
    • Filings
    • Media Relations Contacts
  • Public Policy
    • Position Papers
    • Testimony
    • Filings
    • Letters
  • Products & Events
    • Product Showcase
    • Publications
    • e-Business
    • Resources
    • Events
  • Connect
Search
A4A Home
  • 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

Public Policy section: picture of the Capitol dome

​Filter by Topic

All

Customers

Econ & Analysis

Energy & Environment

Public Policy

Safety & Ops

Security 


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.

ATA Reinforces Commitment to Transparency of Optional Fees (10/14/2010)
ATA CEO Jim May writes to Senators explaining carrier position and committment to transparency on optional fees.
ATA Writes in Opposition to the Federal Republic of Germany’s Recently Adopted Air Transportation Tax (9/15/2010)
ATA writes the Federal Republic of Germany in opposition to their recently adopted air transportation tax and urges legislative action to rescind the measure.
ATA CEOs Letter to Senate Leadership Opposing PFC Increase in FAA Reauthorization (5/13/2010)
The CEOs of ATA's member airlines write Senate Aviation leadership urging them to not include the increase in the passenger facility charge in the final Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill.
ATA Letter on the DHS Announcement of the New Airport Security Measures (4/6/2010)
ATA CEO Jim May writes to Chairman Inouye to express concern about the new airport security measures for non U.S. locations announced by the Department of Homeland Security. ATA believes that the measures need to be adapted to recognize the federal...
ATA Letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Section 201 of HR 4016 (11/18/2009)
While ATA appreciated the opportunity to testify at the November 16 hearing regarding H.R. 4016, we, and our member airlines, maintain that the enactment of Section 201 of the bill is not warranted at this time.
ATA Letter to Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee On U.S.-VISIT (11/13/2009)
ATA writes the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee requesting reconsideration of its pre-September 11 mandate to implement a US-VISIT Exit regime if it will only be implemented in the air environment and not at land border crossings.
ATA writes EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes urging DG-Competition to approve the three international airline alliances: oneworld, SkyTeam and Star (11/4/2009)
ATA voices concerns regarding H.R. 4016, the "Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Act of 2009" to the leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
ATA Requests APHIS Response to Concerns Surrounding the Proposed Fee Increase (10/29/2009)
ATA writes U.S. Special Envoy to Climate Change, Todd Stern, urging the climate negotiator to oppose a proposal for a climate change tax targeted at the airlines and their passengers to fund projects in developing countries.
ATA Letter to Air Cargo Shippers regarding Air Cargo Screening Mandate and the TSA Certified Cargo Screening Program (9/8/2009)
ATA letter to air cargo shippers regarding the congressionally mandated August 2010 deadline for 100 percent screening of all cargo on passenger planes, and outlining ATA support for the TSA Certified Cargo Screening Program.
ATA Letter Requesting Antitrust Immunity for International Airline Alliances (6/16/2009)
Arbitrarily terminating antitrust immunity- even temporarily- will cause significant harm to the traveling and shipping public, airline employees and the fate of the industry as a whole.
1 - 10 Next

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
© 1995-2013 Airlines for America (A4A). All rights reserved.
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:
www.nationalairlinepolicy.com
Twitter: @Natl_Air_Policy
Facebook: facebook.com/nationalairlinepolicy

Home | Contact Us | Privacy Statement | Site Map | Print Friendly