Secretary Peters, Sen. Dorgan To Speak At Energy/Air Service Summit July 10

Business Wire, June 27, 2008

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- DOT Secretary Mary Peters and Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), a key member of the Senate Democratic leadership and a senior member of the Senate aviation subcommittee, will headline the agenda for a one-day Energy/Air Service Summit, July 10 at the Embassy Suites-Convention Center hotel in Washington, D.C., the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) (http://www.aaae.org) has confirmed.

The summit, organized by AAAE and nine other leading aviation organizations, will mobilize senior aviation executives to tackle the most pressing question in the industry today: how will rising fuel prices impact air service as airlines are forced to scale back to contain costs? Industry leaders will spotlight the specific challenges airports and airlines are facing and discuss joint industry strategies for mitigating the damage caused by skyrocketing fuel costs.

Secretary Peters has a long and distinguished career in transportation and serves as the federal government's highest-ranking transportation official. The Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, which Secretary Peters also oversees, play a central role in aviation policy and in administering programs aimed at encouraging air service throughout the United States.

Senator Dorgan is one of the most proactive legislators in seeking ways to combat the energy crisis. On June 24, he introduced the "End Oil Speculation Act of 2008," designed to put downward pressure on gas prices by curbing what his office called "the rampant speculation taking place in the energy futures markets."

"Having Secretary Peters and Senator Dorgan on our Energy/Air Service Summit agenda underscores the significance of the topic and the related challenges facing the U.S. civil aviation industry," said AAAE President Chip Barclay. "We are honored to feature their voices on our agenda and look forward to having their input as we work together as an industry to address our mounting economic challenges."

Secretary Peters and Senator Dorgan lead an agenda of speakers that represents the wide range of aviation industry stakeholders. Confirmed speakers include representatives from major airlines, air carrier airports, the business/general aviation community, Congress and government agencies.

The Energy/Air Service Summit is presented by AAAE, the South Central Chapter/AAAE, the Air Transport Association, International Air Transport Association, Airports Council International-North America, the Regional Airline Association, the National Business Aviation Association, the Air Line Pilots Association, the National Air Carrier Association, and the Cargo Airline Association.

For information on the Energy/Air Service Summit, including registration details and an updated agenda, click here (http://events.aaae.org/sites/080714/) or call Sean Broderick at (703) 824 0500, Ext. 126.

ABOUT AAAE: Founded in 1928, AAAE (http://www.aaae.org) is the world's largest professional organization representing the professionals who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE's 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry.