Caleb Tiller, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 138, ctiller@nbta.org
Nicole Hayes, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 133, nhayes@nbta.org 

NBTA: Need for Updated Aviation System Evident in Today’s Widespread Flight Delays, Cancellations

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) – the largest association of business travel professionals – issued the following statement from Michael W. McCormick, NBTA Executive Director & COO, in response to the multitude of flight cancellations and delays throughout the United States today due to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) computer glitch:

"Thousands of travelers across the United States today are suffering flight delays and cancellations due to a ‘glitch’ in our antiquated aviation system.  This is an unacceptable drag on corporate productivity at a time when we need the government to be the best partner of a private sector trying to drive economic growth. Today is a prime example of how necessary a 21^st Century aviation system is for our nation’s travelers and economic stability. We urge the FAA to redouble its efforts to build redundancy into the information technology systems that the flying public relies upon.

In particular, to facilitate efficient and safe air travel, the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) needs funding and swift implementation. NextGen is a wide-ranging transformation of the entire national air traffic control system to meet current and future demand. The program will also support the economic viability of the air system while reducing delays and improving safety. In fact, the FAA estimates that the project’s full implementation will lead to a 20 percent reduction in delays.

As the Congress considers additional legislation to spur economic growth, NBTA urges Congress to include significant funding for NextGen to speed up the implementation of this critical tool for economic recovery."

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and corporate meetings organization. NBTA and its regional affiliates – NBTA Australia / New Zealand, the Brazilian Business Travel Association (ABGEV), NBTA Canada, NBTA Europe, NBTA Mexico, and NBTA USA – serve a network of more than 17,000 business travel professionals around the globe with industry-leading events, networking, education & professional development, research, news & information, and advocacy. NBTA members, numbering more than 5,000 in 30 nations, are corporate and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers. They collectively manage and direct more than US$340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually on behalf of more than 13 million business travelers within their organizations. For more information, visit www.nbta.org