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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

 Energy

Plane flying over a field

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Airlines for America (A4A) supports a balanced and comprehensive national energy policy that increases U.S. energy independence, is climate-friendly, and results in more predictable and stable energy supply and costs.

Overview
As airlines are constantly affected by fuel-related challenges, Airlines for America (A4A) supports a balanced and comprehensive national energy policy that enhances U.S. energy security and results in more predictable and stable energy supply and costs. Whether tackling the volatile price of jet fuel, pursuing environmentally preferred alternatives or managing persistent operational disruptions to supply, A4A member airlines must vigilantly cope with the dynamics of global energy markets.

Fuel 101
U.S. airlines are constantly affected by fuel-related challenges. Whether tackling the volatile price of jet fuel, pursuing environmentally friendly alternatives, or managing persistent operational disruptions to supply, A4A member airlines must vigilantly cope with the dynamics of global energy markets. In addition to physical measures, A4A strongly advocates reform of energy futures trading. This section documents the journey of jet fuel from the well to the wing of the aircraft and its significant impact on airline finances and operations.
 
Fuel Prices
This section includes historical statistics on oil and jet fuel prices, as well as airline industry consumption, expenses and fuel efficiency.
 
Energy Futures Trading 
A4A is a founding member and strong supporter of the Stop Oil Speculation Now effort, learn more and join.
 
Alternative Aviation Fuels
A4A and our member airlines are working hard to stimulate the development and deployment of commercially viable, environmentally friendly alternative fuels. A4A co-founded the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) in 2006 to hasten the production and use of more economically viable, operationally reliable, environmentally friendly alternative fuels. This section includes frequently asked questions about alternative fuels, news releases and background information about the A4A commitment to the pursuit of alternative fuels.


A4A Says It’s “Major Madness” to Not Already Have NextGen in Place (4/1/2013)
A4A released it’s bracket for the 2013 NCAA® March Madness® tournament, noting that no matter which team ends up the champion, with a NextGen modernized air traffic control system in place, we all win.
A4A Launches National Airline Policy Campaign to Help Ensure Global Competitiveness of U.S. Airline Industry (12/5/2012)
A4A launched a campaign for a National Airline Policy.
A4A Commends the U.S. Navy for its Ongoing Commitment to Biofuels, ‘Great Green Fleet’ Demonstration (7/19/2012)
A4A today commended the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its ongoing commitment to development and use of biofuels in its “Great Green Fleet” demonstration, which included flights powered by advanced biofuels.
A4A Commends New U.S. Government Investment in Advanced Biofuels (7/2/2012)
A4A today commended the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Energy, and the Navy for announcing an investment of up to $30 million in a public-private partnership to produce commercial-scale advanced drop-in biofuels.
A4A Calls on U.S. Government to Block EU ETS (6/6/2012)
A4A today called on the United States to take immediate action to halt the application of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), which seeks to unlawfully tax U.S. airlines.
Aviation Coalition Urges the Senate to Allow Continued DOD Work on Alternative Aviation Fuels (5/23/2012)
A4A has joined its aviation colleagues in asking the Senate to allow continued DOD work on alternative aviation fuels to achieve our nation’s energy security goals as well as enable the continued leveraging of progress on commercial aviation fuels.
A4A Lauds the Formation of Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative (5/23/2012)
A4A today commended the formation of the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative (MASBI) to accelerate the commercial viability and deployment of alternative aviation fuel in the United States.
Coalition letter to the Defense Subcommittee to urge their support to fund production of biofuels for use in the military (5/10/2012)
A4A and associations in energy and biofuels urge the House and Senate Defense Subcommittees to support funding to accelerate the production of American-made, biofuels for use in military jets, ships and vehicles.
This coalition urges House and Senate House Armed Services leadership to support funding for biofuels for the military (5/10/2012)
A4A and associations in energy and biofuels urge the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to support funding to accelerate the production of American-made, biofuels for use in military jets, ships and vehicles.
Coalition Letter to Senators Inouye and Cochran Requesting Funds for the Defense Production Act (DPA) Fund (4/25/2012)
This Coalition is writing the Appropriations Committee to urge the inclusion of language that would allow the DOE to transfer funds to the DFA fund. These funds would help develop alternative fuels to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
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A4A supports a truly comprehensive, meaningfully balanced U.S. energy policy and is committed to protecting our planet.

Related Links
Bloomberg Energy Prices
CAAFI
CFTC
Consumer Energy Alliance
DOE: Energy Sources
Energy Info Administration
FAA Environment and Energy R&D
FERC
Stop Oil Speculation Now
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Airline Handbook Chapter 10: Energy and Environmental Matters
Transportation Energy Data
What the Experts Say:
“The way we are going to reduce our emissions is to buy more fuel-efficient aircraft [and] to do more research and development in new technologies.”
Sean Kennedy, senior vice president of global government affairs, A4A

​Sky News

07/31/2012
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For more information about the National Airline Policy campaign visit:
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Twitter: @Natl_Air_Policy
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