Air Transport Association Opposes DOT New York Auction Proposal

WASHINGTON , May 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Transportation (DOT) New York Auction proposal:

"Our members and their passengers are frustrated by the DOT's continued fixation on auctions, despite the overwhelming rejection by passengers, airlines and airports to such an experiment. These ill-conceived and unlawful proposals are driven by ideology and will not reduce congestion or flight delays," said ATA President and CEO James C. May . "Instead of focusing on modernizing and expanding the airspace infrastructure as the traveling and shipping public expects, the government seeks to curb that demand by making it more costly to fly. We must work to expand, not limit, capacity. This experiment will penalize the public."

May added that a continued focus on safety is our top priority. "I applaud the DOT's recognition that the unnecessary disruption experienced by American Airlines and their customers was unacceptable."

ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional information about the industry, visit www.airlines.org.

SOURCE Air Transport Association