DOT Secretary Mary Peters Calls for Fundamental Reform of Aviation System at ACI-NA Annual Conference
CONTACT:
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org
(202) 293-4537
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kansas City, MO (October 1, 2007)
-During her keynote address at Airport Council International-North America's (ACI-NA) 16th Annual Conference and Exhibition on October 1 in Kansas City, MO, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said this summer's aviation delays caused $9 billion in economic loss, more than twice the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) budget.
Peters stressed the urgent need for immediate improvements, saying, "Our aviation system today is in crisis. We need fundamental reform, not a series of short-term extensions or even a reauthorization that continues the status-quo policies that have produced record delays and customer dissatisfaction."
Peters also discussed Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization, the aviation industry's growing need for improved infrastructure and the Administration's commitment to safely and efficiently accommodate increased passenger and cargo operations.
The Secretary also outlined measures that the Department of Transportation is implementing to ease delays, explaining, "We are upgrading our complaint system, stepping up oversight of chronically delayed flights, and conducting reviews to make sure carriers comply with customer protection requirements." Peters also congratulated ACI-NA members for their leadership and adaptability in a post-911 world.
Also during the Tuesday morning General Session, ACI-NA Chairman Fredrick "Rick" Piccolo commended ACI-NA and its members on their efforts in the reauthorization process, including reestablishing a strong government affairs department. He congratulated ACI-NA members on their widespread and effective educational campaign to Congress on the upcoming capital needs of airports and financing those needs by increasing the cap in the Passenger Facility Charge.
The mission of Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) is to advocate policies and provide services that strengthen the ability of air carrier airports to serve their passengers, customers and communities. ACI-NA 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. Nearly 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.