A4A Commends FAA Modernization and Reform Act

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

	A4A Commends FAA Modernization and Reform Act
	PubZone1 Helps Improve Safety, Limit Tax Burden on Airlines, Customers WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2012 – Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today commended Congress for its bipartisan leadership in passing the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, a comprehensive bill that will help make air travel even more safe and efficient for passengers and shippers while avoiding further tax increases for customers and airlines. “We commend Congress for passing a responsible bill that recognizes that commercial aviation is central to America’s global competitiveness and a key enabler of job growth and U.S. productivity,” said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. “Holding the line on federal aviation taxes and fees paid by airlines and their customers enables carriers to work toward being sustainably profitable, so they can maintain jobs and service to communities and invest in their product. This bill also recognizes that safety is our highest priority and includes several provisions that help us build on our strong safety record.” Safety: The bill will further enhance aviation safety by promoting the sharing of safety data by airlines and airline employees with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and establish a risk-based inspection system for aircraft repair stations located overseas. NextGen: The bill will help accelerate deployment of the most cost-beneficial NextGen air traffic management system technologies. Specifically, the bill will require FAA to expedite implementation of performance-based navigation procedures at major airports, which will help airlines to further improve on-time performance, reduce fuel burn and aircraft emissions, and mitigate noise. Importantly, the bill also includes performance metrics and deadlines to ensure that air travelers, shippers and airlines realize the benefits of NextGen in an expedited, cost-effective manner. Taxes and Regulations: The bill holds the line on aviation taxes paid by passengers, shippers and airlines, which have doubled over the last 20 years and now constitute $61 of a typical $300 round-trip domestic ticket. This is critically important to the economic viability of the airline industry, which has lost more than $50 billion since 2001 and is now facing record-high jet-fuel prices. The bill also ensures that any future regulations governing the air transportation of lithium batteries are consistent with international standards. EU Emissions Trading Scheme: The bill reaffirms the U.S. position that the European Union (EU) should not extend its emission trading scheme (ETS) to non-EU airlines, and calls for the U.S. government to use all “political, diplomatic and legal tools” to ensure the scheme is not applied to U.S. carriers. In lieu of the ETS, Congress urges the EU to work with ICAO to develop a global, consensual approach to greenhouse gas emissions. Environment: In addition to accelerating the deployment of performance-based navigation procedures, which will help reduce emissions and aircraft fuel burn, the bill strengthens FAA research and development programs in the areas of alternative jet fuel and the use of advanced materials in aircraft. “A4A and its members deeply appreciate the leadership and the tireless work of Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Rockefeller (D-WV) and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), as well as Aviation Subcommittee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD), in bringing this critical legislation to a successful conclusion. “We also commend the leadership and tenacity of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL), Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-WV), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-WI) and Ranking Member Jerry Costello (D-IL) who understand well the importance of a strong commercial aviation industry and made this bill and its passage a priority. “Finally, A4A thanks House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), for removing the roadblocks to getting the bill approved and bringing bipartisan resolution to this much-needed and overdue bill. “This bill saw many extensions, yet thanks to the leaders in both the House and the Senate, today we have a strong, multiyear bill.” ABOUT A4A Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and more than 10 million U.S. jobs. A4A airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For more information about the airline industry, visit www.airlines.org and follow us on Twitter @airlinesdotorg. ### PubZone2	A4A is a leading source for key aviation information.