More than 130 organisations in the United States, including most of the major US airlines, have signed a letter to President Bush urging him to take immediate steps to resolve the energy crisis.

The letter, which says America is in a ‘full-blown and deepening energy crisis', asks the US president to call a special session of Congress �" a step last taken by President Truman 60 years ago �" beginning on August 9 ‘for the sole purpose of debating energy alternatives and enacting a coherent national energy policy’.

Former American Airlines chairman Bob Crandall and Business Travel Coalition chairman Kevin Mitchell drafted the letter, which has attracted equal support from travel and non-travel related businesses and organisations.

“The public knows we are now importing 70% of our petroleum and that continuing as we have is impossible,” says the letter. “In the absence of a sound, long-term energy policy, the fear now taking its toll on businesses and jobs will spread.

“Our view is that we need to do all we can on every front, but that optimizing our efforts requires an integrated, comprehensive, well thought out national energy policy.”

By Linsey McNeill