Airlines Reaffirm Environmental Commitment But Voice Strong Concerns About Waxman-Markey...

Airlines Reaffirm Environmental Commitment But Voice Strong Concerns About
Waxman-Markey Legislation

WASHINGTON, June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Transport Association
of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S.
airlines, today issued the following statement in response to passage of the
Waxman-Markey climate change bill:

"The nation's airlines have an impressive environmental record and are
committed to working with the administration to address climate change, but we
have strong concerns about the Waxman-Markey bill and its punitive
one-size-fits-all approach," said ATA President and CEO James C. May. "This
cap-and-trade bill creates an onerous fuel tax on the airline industry."

"Fuel costs will skyrocket, hindering the ability of U.S. airlines to continue
to improve their environmental performance through fleet modernization and
technological advances, weakening their ability to compete in the global
markets," added ATA.

While seeking to impose these onerous new taxes, Congress also appears to
recognize that this is the wrong approach to follow when it comes to aviation
since elsewhere in the same legislation Congress recognizes the unique nature
of global aviation. Language offered by Congressman Rick Larsen and included
in the Waxman-Markey bill states that the United States should:

-- Continue to actively promote, within the International Civil Aviation
Organization, the development of a global framework for the regulation
of greenhouse gas emissions from civil aircraft that recognizes the
uniquely international nature of the industry and treats commercial
aviation industries in all countries fairly; and
-- Work with foreign governments towards a global agreement that
reconciles
foreign carbon emissions reduction programs to minimize duplicative
requirements and avoids unnecessary complication for the aviation
industry, while still achieving the environmental goals.

"These conflicting views in the Waxman-Markey legislation indicate clearly
that, at least as to aviation, far more work needs to be done to construct the
right approach to dealing with climate change. What we have now just does not
make sense."

ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all
U.S. passenger and cargo traffic. For additional industry information, visit
www.airlines.org.

SOURCE Air Transport Association

David Castelveter, +1-202-626-4033; or Victoria Day, +1-202-626-4141; both of
the Air Transport Association