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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

  • U.S. airlines move 50,000 tons of cargo per day

  • In 2011, the average value of a kilogram of U.S. merchandise exported by air was 117 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

  • From 2000-2010, U.S. airlines carried 15% more traffic while using 2.1 billion fewer gallons of fuel

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

  • From 2000-2010, airlines reduced GHG emissions by 10% while transporting 15% more passengers and cargo

  • From 1975-2010, the number of U.S. residents exposed to significant noise levels fell 95%

  • 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 2000-2010, U.S. airlines improved the on-time arrival rate from 72.6% to 79.8%

  • From 2000-2010, U.S. airlines halved the flight cancellation rate from 3.30% to 1.76%

  • Airfares are a bargain: From 2000-2010, U.S. CPI rose 27% while average domestic fare (excl. taxes) rose just 1%

  • Adjusted for inflation, the average round-trip domestic fare in 2010 fell 21% (from $398 to $316) compared to 2000

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

  • In 2011, the value of U.S. merchandise exported by air reached an all-time high of $424B

  • In 2011, U.S. exports of air-travel services reached an all-time high of $36.7B, driving the largest trade surplus in this category since 1992

  • In 2011, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines spent $50.5B on fuel, up $11.7B ($32M/day) from 2010

  • In 2011, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of mishandled baggage ever recorded

  • In 2011, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of involuntary denied boardings ever recorded

  • In 4Q 2011, U.S. airlines posted the second-lowest quarterly on-time arrival rate ever recorded

  • FAA projects U.S. air travel demand to top 1 billion passengers in 2024

  • In 2011, US airlines flew 80 million passengers in scheduled international service- a record high

  • In 2011, US airlines flew at 241.2 billion revenue passenger miles in scheduled international service- a record high

  • In 2011, US airlines operated 299.9 billion available seat miles in scheduled international service- a record high

What we do
We vigorously advocate for the American airline industry as a model of safety, customer service and environmental responsibility; and as the indispensable network that drives our nation's economy and global competitiveness.
More about A4A
​Airlines for America (A4A), formerly known as Air Transport Association of America, Inc. (ATA), was the first and remains the only trade organization of the principal U.S. airlines. In the 75-plus year history of the association, A4A has supported America’s airlines as they evolved. Today, A4A members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic.
Read More
National Airline Policy
​U.S. airlines need a National Airline Policy that would help rationalize the industry’s tax and regulatory environment, improve infrastructure and ensure the U.S. airlines can compete globally. Read More
A4A SmartBrief
Updated 16 May, 2012
Delta Air Lines, pilots reach tentative deal on contract
5 work groups accept contract from American Airlines
Alaska Air Group names Brad Tilden as CEO
AirTran Airways marks 15 years of service in Flint, Mich.
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A4A SmartBrief
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Latest Headline
A4A Members Deliver Best First-Quarter On-Time Performance
Latest News
A4A Members Deliver Best First-Quarter On-Time Performance
(5/14/2012)
A4A Forecasts Record Summer International Air Travel
(5/9/2012)
A4A Commends Important Reforms in Bipartisan Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization Agreement
(5/5/2012)
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Jet-Fuel Price Volatility
Planning is difficult when airlines’ largest cost center remains its most volatile.  The Argus US Jet Fuel Index provides a composite daily price for Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York.
Read More
Twitter Updates
FAA Acting Admin: NextGen requires both innovation and collaboration throughout the airline industry
http://t.co/NHy48P9S
5:55 pm 05/16/2012
FAA Acting Admin: We must move to the greater safety and efficiency we will achieve through the precision of GPS
http://t.co/n5cRQDo9
4:20 pm 05/16/2012
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© 1995-2012 Airlines for America (A4A). All rights reserved.
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1100 | Washington, DC 20004
T: 202.626.4000 | E: a4a@airlines.org
Home | Contact Us | Site Map
© 1995-2012 Airlines for America (A4A). All rights reserved.
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1100 | Washington, DC 20004
T: 202.626.4000 | E: a4a@airlines.org
Home | Contact Us | Site Map | Print Friendly