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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 Coalition Letters

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PubZone1
​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. 

Aviation Associations Commend EPA Recognition of Industry Voluntary Pollution-Reduction Program (4/30/2012)
A4A, ACI-NA, AAAE and RAA today commended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for finalizing new aircraft deicing regulations that recognize and build on the industry’s strong safety and environmental record while recognizing its unique operations.
Coalition Letter in Opposition to Changes in ARFF Standards (5/5/2010)
The coalition urges Congressional aviation leaders to oppose any language in the Aviation Safety and Investment Act of 2010 (HR 1586) that would legislative changes to current aircraft rescue and fire fighting standards.
Coalition Letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Leadership On Creating Job Growth Through NextGen (11/23/2009)
This coalition, representing the United States civil aviation and travel industries, urges Congress to include funding for acceleration and deployment of the next generation of air traffic control (“NowGen”) capabilities, equipage and procedures in...
Coalition Letter in Opposition to Section 201 of HR 4016 (11/16/2009)
ATA joins many other stakeholders in opposing Section 201 of H.R. 4016, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Act of 2009.
Coalition Letter to Chairman Murray on NextGen Implementation (9/18/2009)
The aviation industry greatly appreciates Chairman Murray’s support regarding the acceleration of Next Gen implementation. However, given the financial state of the industry, purchasing additional equipage is not feasible. Therefore, this coalition...
Equipping Aircraft Will Create Jobs and Achieve Environmental and Safety Benefits Now (1/29/2009)
The commercial and general aviation community request that Congress continue to consider a stimulus package focused on job creation, investment in critical infrastructure, and pursuit of clean energy technology by investing in the modernization of the...
Open Letter to All Commercial Airline Pilots Announcing Runway Safety Awareness Day (2/12/2008)
ATA released an open letter to all commercial pilots from organizations representing more than 50 U.S. airlines and 70,000 pilots, and the FAA, announcing that Feb. 12 is Runway Safety Awareness Day.
Letter to DOT Secretary Peters on JFK Congestion Solutions (11/14/2007)
Letter to DOT Secretary Mary Peters urging the department to focus on solutions to delays at New York's JFK airport other than instituting unreasonable caps on U.S. airlines or congestion pricing.
Letter from Cong. Randy Kuhl (R-NY) to DOT Secretary Peters Expressing Concern for Congestion Pricing (10/25/2007)
Congressman Randy Kuhl (R-NY) to DOT Secretary Mary Peters concerning congestion and delays in the New York area. Congressman Kuhl states he is "concerned that congestion pricing will not solve" delay and congestion problems.

PubZone2
A4A advocates measures to support aviation safety, security and well-being.

What the Experts Say:
“The biofuels industry is rapidly developing and has the potential to save taxpayers millions as well as provide a much-needed, supply-based hedge against the volatility resulting from reliance on unstable sources of oil.”

Aviation Coalition,

​Coalition Letter

05/23/2012
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