U.S. Chamber Urges Support for Airline Industry -- Airlines Critical to National Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce called on Congress to recognize the critical role the airline industry plays in our national and economic interests, and to financially support the industry following last week's terrorist attacks.

"Supporting the U.S. airline industry is not a 'corporate' interest alone - it's a national interest," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "The U.S. Congress must not allow terrorists to bring down an essential service to our citizens, our economy and our national security."

The airline industry is far more than planes, aviation workers and shareholders. They provide mobility for our citizens and businesses, air cargo support for our just-in-time inventory system, and airlift support for the armed forces, according to the Chamber.

"Lawmakers must move swiftly to provide the funds necessary to prevent further catastrophe in the airline industry," said Donohue. "The death and destruction caused by the terrorist attacks must not echo through the U.S. economy and the damage to our infrastructure must be limited."

Legislation, currently being considered on Capitol Hill, should include immediate aid to airlines for the loss of revenue during the aviation shut down, lines of credit to enable the industry to weather the lowered revenues due to decreased traffic over the coming weeks, and limits on the ability of class action attorneys to profit from the events of last week.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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