U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s hearing to examine the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) progress toward implementing NextGen:
“While there’s still much work to be done, this hearing comes at a critical time, as the promises of NextGen are already becoming a reality. Just last week, the FAA launched a NextGen project in Houston that will shorten flight paths and landing patterns, thereby reducing delays and cancellations in one of the most congested airspaces in Texas.
“This is a win for both travelers and the travel industry. We know from repeated studies that travelers find flight delays and cancellations to be the most frustrating aspect of flying. In 2013 alone, Americans avoided 38 million trips because of flying hassles, which cost the U.S. economy more than $35 billion in travel spending. As air travel continues to grow, NextGen will be essential for improving the overall flying experience and keeping our industry competitive.
“We applaud the Commerce Committee for holding this important hearing to examine the challenges that lay ahead and the progress that’s already being made.”
