17 April 2008

TSA wants presidential candidates to help solve airline woes

In what it calls the Ã¢â¬Åâœwake of the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights and growing dismay among travelers,Ã¢â¬~ a prominent travel group is asking the three remaining US presidential candidates to outline their proposals for improvement.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœOn behalf of millions of frustrated travelers and an increasingly concerned private sector, TIA (Travel Industry Association) pledged to lead a broader discussion on the need for comprehensive reforms and detail the profound consequences of inaction,Ã¢â¬~ said the group.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe entire travel community - including hotels, rental cars, destinations, theme parks and, most importantly, travelers - is dependent on a safe, secure and efficient air travel system,Ã¢â¬~ said Roger Dow, President and CEO of the Travel Industry Association, adding:

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWith respect to efficiency, todayÃ¢â¬â¢s air travel system is broken. We pledge to travelers that we will work with them to break the logjam in Washington and make meaningful reforms to the air travel process.Ã¢â¬~

TIA called on Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama to:

Issue comprehensive plans by Memorial Day to fix major elements of the air travel system during their term in office;
Demonstrate on the campaign trail an understanding of the challenges that millions of American travelers are confronting each and every day;
Ensure that an improved transportation infrastructure is a major element of their party platform to be adopted at this summerÃ¢â¬â¢s conventions; and
Respond to a brief questionnaire that will enable voters to determine which candidate is the greatest champion of the traveler.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœTravelers are voters - and approximately two million take to the skies each day,Ã¢â¬~ said Mr Dow. Ã¢â¬ÅâœThey are looking for a candidate that champions the needs of travelers and promises to build a travel infrastructure that our country can be proud of.Ã¢â¬~

Report by David Wilkening