The influential Washington, D.C. group known as the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) has changed its name to Airlines for America (A4A) with the tagline of “We Connect the World.” The move better represents the industry’s role of connecting the United States to the global economy, the association says.
“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," said A4A CEO and President Nicholas E. Calio.
“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. 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," Calio said.
A4A’s members move about 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, A4A says. 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.
A4A also introduced a new logo and redesigned web site with the same address: www.airlines.org. The new web site features industry economic, environmental and operational data.