FAA Reauthorization

The Issue:  On February 15, 2012, President Obama signed a four-year, $64 billion Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill. After 23 short-term extensions and considerable uncertainty about funding for key FAA safety initiatives, agreement by Congress on a final bill was great news for the business travel industry.  The bill contains no new taxes or fees, and no increase in permissible Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs).  In addition, it accelerates air traffic control modernization - NextGen: creates a Chief NextGen Officer position at the FAA and metrics for measuring benefits from implementation of NextGen technologies/operations; and renews FAA focus on relief in congested air space where NextGen can make a significant difference. That translates into fewer flight delays and shorter flights for frequent business travelers.  In addition, the bill contains numerous passenger protections, including a passenger complaint hotline, government study on the adequacy of lost bag compensation and additional reporting/tracking of flight delays and cancellations.

GBTA Position: GBTA will monitor the appropriations process to ensure adequate funding for key FAA programs and infrastructure improvement projects.  GBTA fully supports the Administration’s proposed 11 percent increase over 2012 levels in NextGen funding for the upcoming fiscal year. GBTA will also work with other stakeholders to focus NextGen efforts on the Northeast Corridor, including the New York metropolitan area airports where over 50 percent of flight delays originate.  See NextGen issue brief.