Bates International RV Blog

Thursday, May 29, 2008 – Roger J. Dow, President and CEO of Travel Industry Association announces that the TIA released a landmark survey revealing that deep frustration among air travelers caused them to avoid an estimated 41 million trips over the past 12 months at a cost of more than $26 billion to the U.S. economy.  Air travelers’ primary concerns are delays (largely due to an antiquated air traffic control system) and inefficient security screening.  The research also demonstrated that air travelers express little optimism for positive change, with nearly 50 percent saying that the air travel system is not likely to improve in the near future.

This research, which was conducted with more than 1,000 adults who had taken at least one roundtrip by air in the last 12 months, should be a wake up call to America’s policy leaders that the time for meaningful air system reform is now.  More than 100,000 travelers each day are voting with their wallets by choosing to avoid trips.

The 41 million avoided trips during the last 12 months rippled outward across the entire travel community costing airlines more than $9 billion in revenue; hotels nearly $6 billion and restaurants more than $3 billion.  In addition, federal, state and local governments lost more than $4 billion in tax revenue because of reduced spending by travelers.

With rising fuel prices already weighing heavily on American pocketbooks, we need to find ways to encourage Americans to continue their business and leisure travel.  In recent weeks, TIA has distributed two email newsletters citing research and data on the benefits of travel.  I encourage you to promote and share this information broadly.  It can be found at www.TIA.org/Benefits.  This initiative will become a cornerstone of TIA’s activities in the months and years ahead.

TIA will host an emergency summit of travel leaders on June 17 in Washington, D.C., to discuss next steps for moving the air travel issue forward with policymakers.  In addition, TIA has called on each of the major presidential candidates to commit to addressing the issue for the millions of American air travelers – and voters – who face the trials of the antiquated air traffic system on a daily basis and to issue a comprehensive plan to fix major elements of the air travel system during their first term in office.  Air travel reform is an issue suffering from a lack of leadership – TIA is working to fill that void.