WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, lauded a bill introduced today by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) that will enable federal employees, such as air traffic controllers, to continue to provide vital services despite the budget sequestration. It would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to identify essential government personnel necessary to maintain essential air travel services.
The Department of Transportation has projected that cuts and expected furloughs due to sequestration at the FAA would have a significant, negative impact on airlines, air travelers and shippers. Sen. Blunt’s bill will mandate that federal agencies identify essential personnel who will effectively manage necessary public services during the sequester.
“There is absolutely no reason why sequestration cuts should wreak havoc for airline passengers and shippers, the very people who fund two-thirds of the FAA’s budget,” said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. “The FAA applied a similar approach during the two-week FAA shutdown in 2011 without impacting passengers, and we would expect nothing less now. We commend Sen. Blunt for his continued leadership, and encourage bipartisan support for this bill, which will ensure the 2 million customers and 50,000 tons of cargo that fly every day are not negatively or punitively impacted by unnecessary cuts.”
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.
