WASHINGTON, 3 Dec. 2011. Officials at the Air Transport Association of America, the trade association for principal U.S. airlines, have changed the organization’s name and tagline to Airlines for America (A4A) and "We Connect the World," respectively. The new identity “better represents the industry's vital role of literally connecting the United States to the global economy,” according to a representative.
"In the 75-year history of our association, we have supported America's airlines as they changed travel, trade and tourism across the United States and became today's indispensable facilitators of the global economy, now transporting more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic," explains Nicholas E. Calio, A4A CEO and president. "As the U.S. looks to compete in growth markets overseas and increase exports and create jobs across the country, our airlines will play an even greater role.
“A4A is acutely aware of the progress and competitive advantages taking place in international markets to build and leverage commercial aviation to support growth,” Calio adds. “Our focus is to work cooperatively with the administration and Congress to create a tax and regulatory environment that enables U.S. airlines to provide the service needed to compete globally."
A4A's members move roughly 2 million passengers and 50,000 tons of cargo every day and commercial aviation is the third-largest sector contributing to the U.S. economy.
"Commercial aviation drives more than 10 million U.S. jobs and more than $1 trillion a year in economic activity and 5 percent of U.S. GDP," Calio says.
