Government, Regulatory & Environmental Affairs

Agency & Court Filings

ATA frequently participates in rulemaking and other regulatory proceedings affecting the airline industry.  The U.S. airline industry is heavily regulated -- federal agencies regulate not just safety and security, but a variety of aspects of domestic and international air transportation.  ATA advocates for efficient, effective rules to minimize the economic burden of regulation.  ATA also participates in judicial proceedings that raise significant legal and policy issues broadly affecting the U.S. airline industry.  ATA public filings to regulatory agencies and courts are included here.

inside this section

ATA Comments on DOT's Proposed Amendments to its Airport Rates and Charges Policy

ATA comments on DOT's proposed amendments to its Airport Rates and Charges Policy. (April 3, 2008)

ATA Comments on Newark Airport Flight Limits Order

ATA's comments to the FAA's proposed order limiting operations at Newark Airport hihlight FAA's lack of statutory authority to impose slot auctions and suggest several practicalchanges to he order. (April 1, 2008)

ATA Comments on ADS-B NPRM

Attached are the comments of ATA on the ADS-B proposed rulemaking. (3/3/2008)

ATA Comments on DOT Passenger Protection ANPRM

ATA filed comments in response to the DOT ANPRM concerning enhancing national airline passenger protections. (1/22/08)

ATA Comments on DOT Gate Reporting NPRM

The Air Transport Association of America, Inc. and the Regional Airline Association jointly filed comments in response to the Department of Transportation NPRM concerning revisions to airlines service quality performance reports and disclosure requirements. (1/22/08)

Clark County v. Vacation Village

ATA joined again with the Airports Council International-North America, the Air Line Pilots Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the National Business Aviation Association and the Regional Airlines Association to file and amicus brief with the US Supreme Court supporting Clark County's petition for a writ of certiorari of a 9th Circuit decision involving height restriction around McCarran airport. Like the McCarran v. Sisolak case, which the Supreme Court declined to review earlier this year, this is an inverse condemnation case in which the court awarded compensation under Nevada law. (11/19/07)

ATA v. Cuomo

ATA, on behalf of its member air carriers, challenged a New York statute that creates a state airline passenger bill of rights. The New York statute violates the preemption provision of the federal Airline Deregulation Act, which expressly provides that states "may not enact or enforce a law, regulation or other provision having the force and effect of law, related to a price, route or service of an air carrier..." 10/23/2007

Department of Transportation Petition

The Air Transport Association and the Air Carrier Association of America, on behalf of themselves and their passenger and cargo member airlines, request DOT to exercise its authority and declare that new "privilege fee" imposed by the Township of Tinicum, Delaware County, Pennsylvania on aircraft landing at Philadelphia International Airport is preempted and prohibited by the Anti-Head Tax Act. (10/11/2007)

Rowe v. New Hampshire Motor Transport Association

ATA and FedEx filed an amicus brief in the US Supreme Court supporting several motor carrier groups in their challenge to a Maine statute regulating delivery of tobacco products. The case addresses the interpretation of the preemption provision of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994, which uses language identical to the "prices, routes or services" preemption provision of the Airline Deregulation Act. (10/11/07)

ATA and RAA Comments on LGA Interim Order Amendment

Attached are the comments of ATA and RAA on the proposed amendments to the LaGuardia Interim Order. (9/7/2007)

ATA Comments on Composition of Proxy Groups

The Air Transport Association filed comments with FERC on the "Composition of Proxy Groups for Determining Gas and Oil Pipeline Return on Equity". (August 30, 2007)

Cerquiera v. American Airlines

ATA filed an amicus brief in support of American Airlines in this discrimination case involving an airline pilot's discretion in dealing with perceived security issues. (8/2/07)

ATA Joins Fight Against LAX Fee Increases

Because LAX is limited by statutory and regulatory restrictions, ATA's brief in this DOT case disputes LAX's claim that it cannot act like a commercial landlord and unilaterally impose so-called market rents for essential terminal facilities. (May 3, 2007)

ATA Comments On Financial Reporting Requirements for Oil and Product Pipelines

In response to an initiative by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review the financial data it requires pipelines to submit on a regular basis, ATA urged FERC to enhance the detail and transparency of that data. (3/28/2007)

Eid v. Alaska Airlines

ATA filed an amicus brief supporting Alaska Airlines in a lawsuit brought by a group of non-U.S. passengers who sued for damages due to delay resulting from the pilot's decision to divert the flight. (1/19/2007)

ATA Files Comments on Pandemic Flu Vaccine Prioritization

In response to an HHS request for information, ATA filed brief comments on the development of guidance for prioritization of pandemic influenza vaccine as it relates to the aviation sector. (1/17/2007)

McCarran v. Sisolak

ATA joined with the Airports Council International--North America, the Air Line Pilots Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the National Business Aviation Association and the Regional Airlines Association to file an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court urging them to review a decision by the Nevada Supreme Court. (1/12/2007)

2006 Archive

This page includes links to agency and court filings for the year 2006.

ATA Statement on Second Circuit Court of Appeals Hearing on New York Airline Services Legislation

ATA comments on its challenge before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals of the New York legislation that dictates airline services.

ATA News Release: ATA Says ADS-B Proposed Rule Increases Cost Without Achieving Stakeholder Benefits

ATA submitted its formal response to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out Performance Requirements to Support Air Traffic Control (ATC) Service.

ATA Statement on California Passenger Services Legislation

ATA issued a statement regarding its testimony before the California state assembly on proposed state legislation that dictates airline services.

ATA News Release: United States Second Circuit Gives Decisive Victory for Airlines and their Customers

ATA released a statement in response to the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that state legislation of airline services is preempted by federal law.

 related info

ATA Comments on ADS-B NPRM

ATA Statement: ATA Applauds DOT Decision to Hear LAX Rent Dispute

 help desk

Contact the ATA Help Desk