Press Release
Immediate Release!
Business
travel industry unites behind the airlines
200
organizations urge Congress to provide emergency assistance
WASHINGTON September 20, 2001- In response to the economic
crisis gripping the U.S. airline industry, the Association of
Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and the Business Travel Coalition
(BTC) reached out to business travel industry participants for
their support for emergency Congressional legislation. More than
200 organizations signed a letter today to Senate Commerce Committee
leaders Hollings and McCain urging them to support an emergency
package of legislation to prevent the wholesale failure of the
strategically important U.S. airline industry.
"Virtually,
all segments of the business travel industry now stand behind
our airlines and are signatories to this letter-major buyers of
air transportation services, rental car, hotel, restaurant and
travel management companies as well as other concerned industry
participants," stated Nancy Holtzman, ACTE executive director.
The
travel industry is asking Congress to: 1) quickly define United's
and American's liability beyond their own aircraft, passengers
and crew; 2) include in a legislative package provisions to rescind
fuel and ticket taxes for all U.S. airlines; 3) provide an immediate
cash infusion of billions dollars to make up for lost revenues
over the next few months; and 4) provide low-interest loans to
enable this strategically vital industry to carry out the restructuring
necessary for financial viability in an inalterably changed industry.
Kevin
P. Mitchell, BTC chairman, said, "We must through intelligent
choices, and at all costs, rob these terrorists of the satisfaction
of bringing down our entire airline industry and our economy."
Contacts:
Nancy Holtzman, ACTE
Office: 703.683.5322
[email protected]
Kevin P. Mitchell, BTC
Office: 610.834.3750
[email protected]
Founded in 1988, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives
is the only organization wholly dedicated to the science of business
travel management with an international constituency. ACTE membership
totals more than 2,400, including entities in Asia, Europe, Canada
and the United States. The organization is headquartered in Alexandria,
Va., and its web site is www.acte.org.
