Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) President and CEO Kevin M. Burke and American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) President and CEO Todd Hauptli issued the following joint statement June 22, after the release of 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (21st Century AIRR Act), House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster's Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization proposal:
"As airports face $20 billion annually in essential infrastructure needs, the future of our aviation system requires modernization in the air and on the ground. We are pleased the Chairman's FAA proposal recognizes the importance of airport representation on a proposed air traffic control corporation and takes steps to streamline the FAA approval process for needed infrastructure project funding, but it is clear there is a long way to go before this legislation is ready for final adoption by the Congress.
"Today's proposal misses a significant opportunity to tackle the real challenge of aging airport infrastructure and advance airports' ability to serve their passengers and communities. The easiest way to build airport infrastructure and let airports address their own local needs is through providing local communities the ability to make investment decisions by eliminating the outdated cap on the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC).
"As the FAA reauthorization process moves forward, AAAE and ACI-NA will continue to urge Congress and the Trump Administration to remove the federal cap on local PFCs so that airports can undertake their critical infrastructure needs for the benefit of air travelers and communities throughout the nation. This is vital to ensuring a vibrant U.S. economy in the 21st century."
