FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACI-NA Addresses Nomination of Rep. LaHood to Lead DOT

Washington, D.C. (Dec. 18, 2008)— Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) President Greg Principato issued the following statement in response to reports that President-elect Barack Obama will name Ray LaHood as Department of Transportation (DOT) secretary:

“ACI-NA and its member airports congratulate Congressman Ray LaHood on his expected nomination as Secretary of Transportation. Aviation in the United States faces a number of critical issues including the need to boost investment in infrastructure and modernization of our outdated air traffic control system. These issues cry out for the kind of bipartisan action and leadership that have been the hallmark of Congressman LaHood's career. Upon confirmation, we look forward to working with him to solve these problems and build an air transportation system that will support economic growth in the 21st century.”

About ACI-NA
Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. More than 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.

CONTACT:
Victoria Houghton, vhoughton@aci-na.org, (202) 861-8080
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org, (202) 293-4537