Airlines, Pilots Oppose Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Bill

The Air Transport Association (ATA), the primary trade group representing U.S. airlines, and other local organizations gathering pilot trade unions and cargo air carriers, issued a statement in response to the decision by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) to approve and forward to the full Senate S.2191, the “Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007”:

“While the airlines and pilots continue to take their environmental responsibilities very seriously, we have real concerns about the costs and effects of this proposed legislation,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May.

“By including jet fuel in a cap-and-trade greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trading scheme, the legislation essentially would serve as an unnecessary and additional tax on fuel. It would greatly increase airline costs and would compromise our ability to invest in new aircraft and other fleet upgrades - the very things we need to continue to improve our emissions profile,” Mr. May added.

The groups noted that U.S. airlines have made tremendous improvements in fuel efficiency, which directly relates to GHG efficiency.

“This legislation piles an even heavier tax burden on an industry that already compares to the burden on alcohol, tobacco, gambling and firearms,” said ALPA President Capt. John Prater.

Another key concern is that Congress failed to enact legislation reauthorizing the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which would have paved the way for a much needed Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and which contained a number of valuable environmental initiatives.

The coalition’s concerns have been further heightened by the speed in which this legislation has moved through the Senate subcommittee and committee processes.