GBTA Calls ATC Privatization A High Stakes Gamble for the Business Traveler, Asks Congress to Offset Related Passenger Taxes

GBTA Joins Trade Groups in Calling on Congress to Effectively Modernize Air Traffic Control

Alexandria, VA (June 7, 2017) – Today, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of global business travel industry, joined Airlines for America (A4A) and Travelers United (TU) in requesting that the House Ways and Means Committee work with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in modernizing the nation’s air traffic control.

GBTA, A4A and TU sent a letter today to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee requesting that the Committee work “closely and collaboratively” with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee “to craft a comprehensive and transformative aviation bill that provides not only a policy framework but also a tax/revenue framework necessary to modernize our antiquated air traffic control system.

“ATC modernization and reform is a laudable goal,” said Michael W. McCormick, GBTA executive director and COO. “The President and House T&I Chairman Bill Schuster’s proposals aim to reduce costs and delays, and improve the efficiency and safety of commercial aviation. For the business traveler, this is a billion dollar gamble. It has the potential to save billions in terms of technology modernization and efficiency costs. But if Congress does not repeal passenger taxes when airlines pay user fees, the business traveler will end up paying twice for air traffic control.”

CONTACT: Colleen Gallagher line, +1 703-236-1133, cgallagher@gbta.org Marianne Varkiani, +1 703-236-1164, mvarkiani@gbta.org

About the Global Business Travel Association
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA’s 9,000-plus members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. To learn how business travel drives lasting business growth, gbta.org