GBTA Commends Chairman Shuster for Progress on FAA Authorization and ATC Reform

Alexandria, VA (June 21, 2017) – Today, the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Bill Shuster (R-PA) introduced legislation that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation (FAA) Administration and move operations of air traffic control into an independent, not-for-profit organization. The bill also includes new consumer protections for the business traveler flying on commercial airlines.

The following statement may be attributed to Michael W. McCormick, GBTA executive director and COO:

“We applaud Chairman Shuster for his leadership on FAA modernization and ATC reform, and the progress that has been made. The Chairman’s work in bringing all the stakeholders together and finding a path forward is no easy task. Under the Chairman’s bill, moving operations out of the air traffic control system into an independent, not-for-profit organization lowers cost, increases efficiency and safety, and maintains transparency and accountability. For the business traveler, more flights and fewer costs means more business and ultimately, provides greater economic returns in the long term.

Earlier this month, GBTA joined Airlines for America and Travelers United in requesting that the House Ways and Means Committee complete its work and ‘shift the burden of paying for the ATC system away from traveling consumers, by reducing passenger taxes, and instead transferring the funding onus directly onto airlines.’

We remain optimistic that together we can find a path forward that accelerates necessary investment in our country’s travel infrastructure while protecting the interests of the business travel community.”

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