Latest news with #AirlinesForAmerica
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Past time to lift Dublin passenger cap say American carriers
It is 'past time' for the Government to axe the controversial cap limiting Dublin Airport to 32 million passengers a-year, North American airlines warned on Wednesday. Airlines for America (A4A), whose members include US and Canadian carriers that fly to Dublin, said in a statement that it was bewildered at the cap remains despite Government pledges to lift it and widespread business condemnation of the planning condition. 'It is past time for the Irish Government to show leadership on this matter and take steps to remove the cap which hinders commerce, disrupts the seamless facilitation of passengers and threatens economic growth, jobs and tourism on both sides of the Atlantic,' said the group. 'It is critical that this matter be resolved swiftly to avoid long-term damage to the US-Ireland relationship, the aviation market and the broader transatlantic economy.' READ MORE A4A's comments follow a warning from Willie Walsh , the International Air Transport Association's Irish director general, that the cap was angering US airlines. Michael O'Leary , Ryanair chief executive, this week also renewed calls on the Government to lift the cap, a measure included in the Programme for Government.
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Airlines and Trump Administration Backpedal on Protections for Travelers With Wheelchairs
In January, airline passengers who use wheelchairs saw brighter horizons ahead for their often-difficult travels. A new rule adopted by the federal government meant that airlines would expand support for disabled passengers throughout their trips and enhance training for employees who assist them, and carriers would be compelled to replace wheelchairs that were lost or damaged and offer loaners promptly, among other changes. But shortly after President Trump was inaugurated, the Transportation Department moved to delay enforcement of the rule — initially until March, then until August — and now, airlines are challenging one of its provisions in court. When the government issued the rule in December, supporters heralded it as a win after decades of advocacy, saying it struck a blow for the rights of disabled travelers, for whom inconsistent help, physical discomfort and damaged wheelchairs were unfortunate norms of flying. 'Those rules were a huge win for wheelchair users,' said Seth McBride, a wheelchair rugby athlete who lives in Washington State. 'It felt like the D.O.T. was starting to listen to the disability community,' he said, adding that he felt that airlines were being forced to take the needs of wheelchair users seriously and provide the same level of service they provide to everybody else. Now the rule is on notably shakier ground. Airlines for America, a trade association that represents the country's biggest airlines, joined by member carriers American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, has filed a lawsuit in federal court arguing that the Transportation Department overstepped its statutory authority in adopting the measure. The petitioners argued in an opening brief filed last week that the rule wrongly makes airlines liable for damaged wheelchairs even when they have not discriminated against disabled travelers, such as if mishandling was an 'act of God' or beyond the airline's control. One example they cited was if the wheelchair was in poor condition before the start of the trip. In those cases, they should not be held liable, they said, allowing that the rest of the rule's provisions could be left in place. The lawsuit 'simply seeks to ensure that D.O.T. acts within the scope of its authority to regulate only acts within airlines' control and responsibility,' the brief reads. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Forbes
13-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Legislation That Cuts Your Credit Card Miles And Points Inches Closer
Your airline miles and points earning could be at risk. getty Are your credit card miles and points at risk? They could be if the ongoing battle for credit card legislation, initiated by the Durbin-Marshall amendment (Senators Roger Marshall and Dick Durbin), passes in Congress. Bipartisan negotiations continue, but a final vote is inching closer. The amendment, part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, would reduce the cost charged to merchants that accept credit cards. It says that businesses pay more than $100 million in swipe fees annually. But, opponents to the change say it would wipe out the miles, points and perks that consumers enjoy from their credit cards. Credit card payment is now the preferred method of payment by many consumers. getty This week, airlines, travel unions and aircraft manufacturers have stepped up their campaigning against these proposed changes, according to a Business Insider article. They say that weakening loyalty programs (and their associated perks) could have a detrimental effect to the aviation and travel industry as a whole. It could affect travel demand, which would hurt employment in the industry and eventually aircraft orders. The trade group Airlines for America is spearheading the efforts and has partnered with various travel companies and unions in a recent letter to senators, which includes support from the Allied Pilots Association, Airbus, American Airlines, Boeing, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines among others. America Airlines planes waiting for passengers at Miami International Airport. getty According to the group, credit cards had a nearly $25 billion effect on the economy in 2023, representing over 31 million American consumers. Limiting credit card benefits could put a dent in the loyalty miles and points game for consumers and a proverbial crater in the bottom line for airlines and hotels that rely on credit card revenue to offset slim margins elsewhere. In the December quarter alone, Delta brought in nearly $2 billion in credit card remuneration, which represented a 14% year-over-year increase from the same period last year. Airlines for America points to research that says that more than half of the loyalty miles and points redeemed in 2023 came from credit cards rather than via flights or hotel stays. A Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-300 getty The Electronic Payments Coalition (EPC), which represents credit card companies adds that this legislation would only benefit mega-stores and does not have the same effect for consumers. The group says that interchange fees have not increased in recent years and that credit card fees are hardly the highest expense that most businesses have to pay. In fact, it believes that small businesses stand to suffer the most if this legislation were to pass. According to a public document from EPC: 'credit card routing mandates would not lower the cost of goods for consumers, and in some cases, may raise costs for consumers.' United Airlines Boeing 777 Aircraft (777-200), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). getty It counters that the argument that low-income individuals are footing the bill for these rewards programs is not accurate. Studies show that 'low-income individuals use rewards credit cards at a rate similar to high-income individuals' and 'there is substantial evidence that caps placed on credit cards transactions reduces rewards offered to consumers while increasing the cost of holding a card, ensuring consumers across income levels are left worse off.' Current, bipartisan negotiations are taking place on the Senate floor with a vote potentially taking place next week.
Malay Mail
09-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
US aviation industry warns tariffs on aircraft parts risk harming key supply chains
NEW YORK, June 9 — US airlines and aerospace manufacturers insist they have no use for tariff protections, warning that the proposed Trump administration levies could eat into the healthy trade surplus the sector has enjoyed for more than 70 years. At the request of President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's department launched an investigation on May 1 to determine whether to impose tariffs of between 10 and 20 percent on civil aircraft and parts, including engines. The US industry those tariffs were crafted to protect, swiftly let the administration know it was not interested. 'Imposing broad tariff or non-tariff trade barriers on the imports of civil aviation technology would risk reversing decades of industrial progress and harm the domestic supply chain,' the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) said in a letter addressed to Lutnick and obtained by AFP. The interested parties were given until June 3 to communicate their positions. The very next day, Lutnick announced that Washington aimed to 'set the standard for aircraft part tariffs' by the end of this month. 'The key is to protect that industry,' he said, adding: 'We will use these tariffs for the betterment of American industry.' But AIA and the Airlines for America (A4A) trade association voiced fear that far from helping, the tariffs would end up harming US manufacturers. No fix needed 'Unlike other industries, the civil aviation manufacturing industry prioritizes domestic production of high-value components and final assembly,' AIA pointed out. According to the organization, US aerospace and defense exports reached US$135.9 billion in 2023, including US$113.9 billion for civil aviation alone. This allowed the sector to generate a trade surplus of US$74.5 billion and to invest US$34.5 billion in research and development, it said. The sector employs more than 2.2 million people in the United States across more than 100,000 companies, which in 2023 produced goods worth nearly $545 billion. In its response to Lutnick, the A4A highlighted how beneficial the international Agreement on Trade in Commercial Aviation (ATCA) had been by helping to eliminate tariffs and trade barriers over nearly half a century. 'The US civil aviation industry is the success story that President Trump is looking for as it leads civil aerospace globally,' it insisted. A full 84 percent of production was already American, it said, stressing that Washington 'does not need to fix the 16 percent' remaining. 'The current trade framework has enhanced our economic and national security and is a critical component to maintaining our national security moving forward,' it said. For manufacturers, the potential tariffs would act like sand jamming a well-oiled machine that has been running smoothly for decades, experts warned. They would also throw off balance an ultra-sensitive supply chain still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Competitive disadvantage' 'To avoid the situation getting worse, we advocate to keep aerospace outside of trade wars,' Willie Walsh, head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), told the organization's general assembly last week. AIA meanwhile stressed that 'aircraft and parts are already in high demand and have a limited supply.' 'Integrating new suppliers and expanding capacity is complex, timely, and costly,' it warned, pointing out that finding suppliers capable of meeting rigorous safety certifications could 'take up to 10 years.' Delta Air Lines also argued for sticking with the status quo, cautioning that the proposed tariffs 'would hinder Delta's ability to maintain its current trajectory.' 'If component parts incur tariffs upon entering the United States, Delta will be at a competitive disadvantage to foreign competitors,' it said. 'The action would also impose an unexpected tax on Delta's purchases of aircraft contracted years in advance.' Delta chief Ed Bastian insisted in late April that the airline 'will not be paying tariffs on any aircraft deliveries we take,' adding that it was 'working very closely with (European group) Airbus' to minimize the impact. Delta pointed out in its letter to Lutnick that it currently had 100 aircraft on order from Boeing, and that it was demanding that its Airbus A220s be produced primarily in Mobile, Alabama. But if the tariffs are imposed, it warned, 'Delta would likely be forced to cancel existing contracts and reconsider contracts under negotiation.' — AFP
Khaleej Times
08-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
US aerospace industry anxious as tariffs loom large
US airlines and aerospace manufacturers insist they have no use for tariff protections, warning that the proposed Trump administration levies could eat into the healthy trade surplus the sector has enjoyed for more than 70 years. At the request of President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's department launched an investigation on May 1 to determine whether to impose tariffs of between 10 and 20 per cent on civil aircraft and parts, including engines. The US industry those tariffs were crafted to protect swiftly let the administration know it was not interested. "Imposing broad tariff or non-tariff trade barriers on the imports of civil aviation technology would risk reversing decades of industrial progress and harm the domestic supply chain," the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) said in a letter addressed to Lutnick and obtained by AFP. The interested parties were given until June 3 to communicate their positions. The very next day, Lutnick announced that Washington aimed to "set the standard for aircraft part tariffs" by the end of this month. "The key is to protect that industry," he said, adding: "We will use these tariffs for the betterment of American industry." But AIA and the Airlines for America (A4A) trade association voiced fear that far from helping, the tariffs would end up harming US manufacturers. "Unlike other industries, the civil aviation manufacturing industry prioritises domestic production of high-value components and final assembly," AIA pointed out. According to the organisation, US aerospace and defence exports reached $135.9 billion in 2023, including $113.9 billion for civil aviation alone. This allowed the sector to generate a trade surplus of $74.5 billion and to invest $34.5 billion in research and development, it said. The sector employs more than 2.2 million people in the United States across more than 100,000 companies, which in 2023 produced goods worth nearly $545 billion. In its response to Lutnick, the A4A highlighted how beneficial the international Agreement on Trade in Commercial Aviation (ATCA) had been by helping to eliminate tariffs and trade barriers over nearly half a century. "The US civil aviation industry is the success story that President Trump is looking for as it leads civil aerospace globally," it insisted. A full 84 per cent of production was already American, it said, stressing that Washington "does not need to fix the 16 per cent" remaining. "The current trade framework has enhanced our economic and national security and is a critical component to maintaining our national security moving forward," it said. For manufacturers, the potential tariffs would act like sand jamming a well-oiled machine that has been running smoothly for decades, experts warned. They would also throw off balance an ultra-sensitive supply chain still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. "To avoid the situation getting worse, we advocate to keep aerospace outside of trade wars," Willie Walsh, head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), told the organisation's general assembly last week. AIA meanwhile stressed that "aircraft and parts are already in high demand and have a limited supply." "Integrating new suppliers and expanding capacity is complex, timely, and costly," it warned, pointing out that finding suppliers capable of meeting rigorous safety certifications could "take up to 10 years." Delta Air Lines also argued for sticking with the status quo, cautioning that the proposed tariffs "would hinder Delta's ability to maintain its current trajectory." "If component parts incur tariffs upon entering the United States, Delta will be at a competitive disadvantage to foreign competitors," it said. "The action would also impose an unexpected tax on Delta's purchases of aircraft contracted years in advance." Delta chief Ed Bastian insisted in late April that the airline "will not be paying tariffs on any aircraft deliveries we take," adding that it was "working very closely with (European group) Airbus" to minimise the impact. Delta pointed out in its letter to Lutnick that it currently had 100 aircraft on order from Boeing, and that it was demanding that its Airbus A220s be produced primarily in Mobile, Alabama. But if the tariffs are imposed, it warned, "Delta would likely be forced to cancel existing contracts and reconsider contracts under negotiation."
