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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 13%

  • 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 Agency Filings

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PubZone1
A4A frequently participates in rulemaking and other regulatory proceedings affecting the airline industry. A4A public filings to regulatory agencies are included here.

A4A Comments about IATA’s New Distribution Capability Initiative (5/1/13) (6/5/2013)
A4A has submitted comments to the Department of Transportation supporting the International Air Transport Association’s proposed framework to...
Chronically Delayed Flights Motion for Relief (5/31/2013)
Airlines for America and the Regional Airline Association requested on May 30, 2013 that the Department of Transportation waive its “Chronically Delayed Flight” regulation for April 2013 due to the Federal Aviation Administration decision to furlough...
DOT and FAA FOIA Requests – Sequester (4/26/2013)
Requests by A4A/RAA/ALPA under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regarding FAA’s plans to furlough controllers and reduce airspace capacity in response to the 2013 sequester.​
A4A Comments About FAA-OSHA Cabin Safety MOU (1/30/2013)
A4A filed comments responding to the proposed FAA-OSHA memorandum of understanding in which OSHA, rather than the FAA, would become responsible for several airline cabin occupational health and safety issues. We urged the FAA, rather than proceeding...
A4A Comments on FAA Proposed Legal Interpretation (8/2/2012)
A4A filed comments supporting many aspects of the FAA proposed legal interpretation concerning deadheading carrier employees and access to the flightdeck.
A4A comments on DOL’s Proposed Regulations on FMLA for Flight Crews (5/18/2012)
A4A filed comments seeking improvements to the Department of Labor’s proposed regulations implementing the 2009 amendments that expanded Family Medical Leave coverage for Flight Attendants and Pilots.
A4A Comments on Pilot Qualification NPRM (5/1/2012)
A4A comments are in response to the FAA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued on Feb. 29, 2012, which would require that first officers hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate and a minimum of 1,500 hours flight time to obtain the certificate.
A4A Comments about the Department of Commerce’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy (3/6/2012)
A4A submitted comments responding to the Department of Commerce’s initiative to facilitate travel to the United States. Our comments emphasized the need to improve the...
A4A comments on OFCCP Proposed Employment Regulations (3/1/2012)
A4A filed comments expressing serious concerns with the OFCCP’s proposed regulations that would require federal contractors to implement a goal of...
SAMHSA Request for Information on Oral Fluid Specimens for Drug Testing (8/9/2011)
ATA comments support SAMHSA’s consideration of oral fluid specimens as alternative method of drug testing employees.
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PubZone2
A4A advocates measures to support aviation safety, security and well-being.

What the Experts Say:
“Hard-hour minimum requirements are not a substitute for the quality of a pilot’s training and experience… A4A carriers have an exemplary safety record and engage in continuous improvements in safety and training and the A4A supports raising pilot qualification requirements, but not to the extent of the NPRM which we believe will reduce the quality of the pilot force rather than enhance it."

A4A ,

​A4A press release

05/01/2012
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