News – National Air Carrier Association

NACA Commends Senate Passage of FAA Reauthorization

In response to passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 by the Senate, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

NACA congratulates Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas), House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), for working on a bipartisan basis to enact The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, a five-year bill to reauthorize the FAA and NTSB. This timely, sweeping legislation will ensure that the U.S. continues to maintain the safest, most efficient airspace system in the world.

We are especially grateful that many NACA priorities were addressed in the bill, including: (1) modernizing pilot training programs to increase pilot supply and enhance pilot performance; (2) refraining from imposing new or higher taxes and fees on passengers; (3) addressing the shortage of air traffic controllers at major ATC facilities in Florida; (4) authorizing more funding and resources for the NTSB; and (5) protecting air service to small and rural communities. We commend the Senate for passing the bill last night with strong bipartisan support and urge the House to follow suit next week.

NACA applauds “Airport Gate Competition Act”

In response to the introduction of the “Airport Gate Competition Act,” National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

NACA and its member airlines commend Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) for introducing the Airport Gate Competition Act to increase airline competition by enhancing access to airport gates. These gates – in many cases under exclusive control of network airlines – are not being utilized for nearly half the day at 75 percent of the top 40 U.S. airports. NACA’s ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) are ready and able to provide new or expanded service to many of these airports, but are effectively shut out of access to gates and other facilities like ticket counters and baggage claim areas.

This bipartisan, common-sense bill would require airports planning to use revenue from passenger facility charges to fund new terminals to ensure that no more than 50 percent of gates and other airport terminal facilities be exclusive to any one airline and that at least 25 percent of gates and facilities be available for common use by all airlines serving the airport. By removing restrictions to gate access, the bill will help drive down average fares and expand service options for consumers by facilitating new or expanded ULCC service. We urge Senate and Houses transportation leaders to include this timely legislation in the pending FAA Reauthorization bill.

NACA Congratulates New FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker

In response to Senate confirmation of Michael Whitaker as the next Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

“We commend the Senate for swiftly confirming Michael Whitaker to be the next FAA Administrator. The agency has been without permanent leadership for entirely too long, and we’re relieved that the FAA can finally move forward on the many challenges facing the aviation industry, including modernizing pilot training standards to increase the supply of commercial airline pilots while enhancing safety; increasing air traffic controller staffing in Florida; mitigating runway incursions; and expediting the deployment of NextGen.

Mike’s experiences as former deputy administrator of the agency, private pilot, and airline executive make him well-positioned to work collaboratively with all stakeholders. The overwhelming bipartisan support he received on Capitol Hill, along with the endorsement of all major aviation stakeholders, is indicative of his strong qualifications for the position. We congratulate Mike and look forward to working with him and his team to ensure that our National Airspace System remains the gold standard for aviation safety worldwide.”

DOT Launches Public Awareness Campaign for Air Travelers with Disabilities

In preparation for the busy holiday travel season, and in celebration of the 37th anniversary of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced that it has launched a campaign, #AccessibleAirTravel, to raise awareness about the right of air travelers with disabilities to safe, dignified, and accessible air travel.

To read DOT’s release, please click here.

To read DOT’s Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights, please click here.

To view DOT’s video on the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights, please click here.

NACA Applauds Nomination of Michael Whitaker for FAA Administrator

In response to the nomination of Michael Whitaker to be the next FAA Administrator, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

NACA commends the White House for nominating Michael Whitaker to be the next Federal Aviation Administration Administrator. As a former commercial airline pilot and deputy administrator of the FAA, Mr. Whitaker is extremely well-positioned to provide the leadership the agency needs to address several long-standing challenges facing the airline industry.

Modernizing the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system, ensuring robust air traffic controller staffing levels – particularly in Florida, to reduce congestion and delays – and addressing recent safety issues, including a rise in runway incursions, are all critical issues needing immediate attention. We look forward to working collaboratively with Mr. Whitaker, DOT leadership, and other aviation stakeholders to ensure that we continue to have the safest, most efficient ATC system in the world.

NACA Urges House Committee to stop TSA pay cuts

On June 26, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak sent a letter to House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) urging them to reconsider proposed pay cuts to critical Transportation Security Administration employees.

“I implore you to reconsider the proposed pay cuts and take the necessary steps to preserve the recent pay raises that were rightfully approved for the entire TSA workforce,” the letter stated. “The requested funding of approximately $300 million to maintain pay levels for the entirety of the TSA workforce in fiscal year 2024 is a modest investment to ensure fairness and retain the invaluable expertise within the agency.”

The House fiscal 2024 Homeland Security funding bill includes language that would impose pay cuts on approximately 20 percent of a certain class of TSA employees. These individuals include air marshals, K-9 handlers, bomb technicians, and TSA employees based in the agency’s Springfield, Va., headquarters, which would face a significant reduction in their pay despite the recent approval of pay raises for the entire TSA workforce.

“It is disheartening to learn that these employees, who play crucial roles in ensuring the safety and security of our transportation systems, would be subjected to such discriminating treatment,” the letter said.

NACA strongly supports “Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act”

In response to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approving the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

The National Air Carrier Association strongly supports the “Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act” (H.R. 3935), approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure today with overwhelming bipartisan support. We commend Chairman Sam Graves, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, and their staffs, for working collaboratively on the five-year FAA reauthorization and addressing the top priorities of NACA’s 21 U.S. airline members:

addressing the shortage of commercial airline pilots,

holding the line on the federal aviation tax burden,

bolstering air traffic controller staffing levels,

modernizing the air traffic control system, and

including a wide-range of reforms to ensure that the United States, and the FAA, remain the world’s gold standard in aviation safety.

We look forward to working with the Committee leaders and their staff as this important legislation advances in Congress.

NACA Congratulates House T&I Leaders on Passage of FAA Reauthorization

In response to House passage of the FAA Reauthorization bill, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

NACA congratulates House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves (R-La.), Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and the committee staff, for developing the epic, five-year FAA reauthorization bill, “Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act” (H.R. 3935), which the House passed today with overwhelming bipartisan support.

The bill addresses several NACA policy priorities:

Holding the line on the federal aviation tax burden by avoiding tax and fee increases;

Containing the regulatory burden by not including any new, unnecessary mandates on minimum seat dimensions;

Repealing the DOT Full-Fare Advertising Rule so airlines can better inform passengers how much of their total flight costs are attributable to federal taxes and fees;

Providing near-term relief on the national pilot shortage safely by increasing the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots to age 67;

Reducing congestion and delays by requiring the FAA to hire as many controllers as the agency can train through 2028, and providing robust funding to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system; and

Including a wide range of initiatives to ensure that the United States and the FAA remain the world’s gold standard in aviation safety.

We look forward to working with House and Senate transportation leaders on a bipartisan basis to ensure that FAA reauthorization legislation that addresses these critical policy issues is enacted as soon as possible.

NACA’s Doell Speaks at TSA Event

NACA Vice President for Government Affairs and Security Policy Paul Doell joined TSA Administrator David Pekoske at a press conference in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday, May 22, to discuss several issues facing the airline industry during the upcoming summer travel season.

“Passengers should know that airlines will be encountering operational headwinds and labor challenges as we move into the summer season,” Doell said. “The FAA continues to experience staffing issues as it relates to air traffic control which will impact airline schedules along with normal delays from weather.”

In addition to FAA controller staffing shortages, Doell emphasized that airlines themselves are working through staff shortages — especially pilots — as they work to operate as smoothly as possible for the traveling public.

Doell also urged all passengers to exercise patience with TSA, airport and airline staff, as well as with their fellow passengers.

“We continue to see an unacceptable number of incidents of unruly passengers,” Doell said. “This is true both at the airport and on board our airplanes. Verbal or physical abuse is unacceptable and against the law, and we will work with federal and local law enforcement partners to make sure unruly passenger cases are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”

Doell thanked Administrator Pekoske for his leadership both during the pandemic and as airlines emerged from it into record demand for air travel, and closed by underlining that NACA’s members look forward to welcoming people onboard and getting them to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible this summer.

Also speaking at the event were Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and industry representatives including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Deputy General Manager for Operations Jan Lennon; Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio; Airports Council International – North America President and CEO Kevin M. Burke; American Association of Airport Executives Senior Vice President for Security and Facilitation Stephanie K. Gupta; and Regional Airline Association Vice President of Government and External Affairs Drew Jacoby Lemos.

NACA Mourns Passing of Chairman Bud Shuster

In response to reports of the passing of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R-Penn.), National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

On behalf of all of NACA’s members, we are saddened to learn of the passing of former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bud Shuster. During his 28-year tenure representing Pennsylvania’s 9th congressional district, Chairman Shuster passed several major aviation and other transportation infrastructure bills with overwhelming bipartisan support – a rarity in today’s highly partisan environment in Washington.

To this day, millions of Americans are benefiting from the aviation systems, highways, ports, and rail and water projects that resulted from his unprecedented ability to bring Republicans and Democrats together in support of the nation’s infrastructure. We express our condolences and prayers to Chairman Shuster’s entire family, including his son, former Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster.