Airlines Lobby Congress to Rebuild ATC With Stimulus Funds

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Airlines, Small-Jet Owners Seek $4 Billion in U.S. Stimulus Aid

By John Hughes

Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. airlines and small-jet owners have joined forces to lobby for $4 billion in economic-stimulus aid, setting aside a two-year dispute over air-traffic control costs.

Nine Washington-area trade groups representing carriers, plane users such as PepsiCo Inc., and manufacturers including Boeing Co. are seeking aid to advance the government’s so-called Next Generation overhaul of air-traffic control technology. They say they want to ensure lawmakers don’t overlook aviation in the $775 billion stimulus plan proposed by President-elect Barack Obama.

“There’s recognition amongst all of us that the only way we’re going to move NextGen is if we’re united,” said Sharon Pinkerton, vice president for government affairs at the Air Transport Association, in an interview. Among the group’s members are Delta Air Lines Inc. and AMR Corp.’s American Airlines. [Full Article]

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