ATA criticises proposal to eliminate modernisation fee

Airline Industry Information, May 16, 2007

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2007 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The Air Transport Association (ATA), a trade association for United States airlines, has said that it strongly opposes a proposal to eliminate a USD25 modernisation fee from the Rockefeller-Lott FAA reauthorisation bill.

The proposal has been made by Senators Bill Nelson and John Sununu.

ATA president and CEO James C. May said that if Congress intends to fairly fund the transformation aimed at achieving a next-generation air traffic control system, this is a good time to start the process.

May takes the view that the proposed elimination of the USD25 fee undermines the importance of transitioning to a funding mechanism that provides fair charging for all system users for the air traffic control services they make use of.

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