WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Airlines for America (A4A), the trade association for the leading U.S. airlines, today said that its Board of Directors voted unanimously to waive the notice period for Delta Air Lines to leave the association, effective immediately, shortening Delta’s announced intended departure date by six months. The Board members also voted to maintain the current budget and agreed to cover the dues Delta had been paying.
The Board also expressed unanimous support for A4A and its agenda.
“Increasingly respected on Capitol Hill, A4A has become a strong and effective advocate for our industry, our employees and our customers,” said Doug Parker, Chairman and CEO of American Airlines and Chairman of the A4A Board of Directors. “Under Nick Calio’s leadership in recent years, A4A has consistently engaged and worked successfully with our Board to identify and challenge issues of most concern to our industry. We will continue to be most effective as an organization with unanimity and alignment on key issues.”
While Delta this week gave six months’ notice of its intent to leave as required under A4A bylaws, Parker said the Board believed an immediate departure was in the best interest of the association.
A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio said the Board decision will eliminate any confusion externally on A4A positions on key industry issues, including air traffic control reform and modernization.
“A4A is a consensus-based organization, and we are pleased to be moving forward speaking in a unified voice on specific issues including higher taxes, unnecessary regulations and the need for infrastructure improvement,” said Brad Tilden, Chairman and CEO of Alaska Airlines and Vice Chairman of the A4A Board.
Calio expressed appreciation for the unanimous support of the Board: “We will continue to execute against our strategic plan and advocate for our members and the people and cargo they fly every day, with the full support of the Board of Directors.”
ABOUT A4A
Annually commercial aviation helps drive nearly $1.5 trillion in U.S. economic activity and more than 11 million U.S. jobs. Airlines for America (A4A) vigorously advocates on behalf of the American airline industry as a model of safety, customer service and environmental responsibility and as the indispensable network that drives our nation's economy and global competitiveness. Our member carriers and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic.
America needs a cohesive National Airline Policy that will support the integral role the nation's airlines play in connecting people and goods globally, spur the nation's economic growth and create more high-paying jobs. A4A works collaboratively with the airlines, labor groups, Congress and the Administration to improve air travel for everyone.
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