Air Transport Association Applauds Alternative Fuels Legislation

WASHINGTON, May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Transport Association (ATA), the trade association for the leading U.S. airlines, today issued the following statement applauding the coal-to-liquids legislation introduced by Reps. Boucher and Shimkus.

"The airlines strongly support the development of alternatives to traditional petroleum-based jet fuel and applaud the legislation introduced today by Reps. Boucher and Shimkus, which promotes the development of coal-to- liquids technology," said ATA President and CEO James C. May. "Alternative fuels have the potential to bring significant economic, operational and environmental benefits to the airlines, as well as energy security for the country.

"With 19 to 20 billion gallons of jet fuel consumed per year, fuel now tops expenses paid by airlines. In 2006 alone, U.S. airlines spent more than $38 billion on jet fuel," May said. "While airlines improved fuel efficiency by 35 percent in the past six years, the unrelenting rise in these fuel prices and an unstable global fuel supply source necessitate efforts to find alternative jet fuels."

ATA airline members transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic.

SOURCE Air Transport Association

CONTACT: Victoria Day, +1-202-626-4141, or Elizabeth Machalek Merida, +1-202-626-4205, both of ATA

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