Action Alert: Please Urge Lawmakers to Provide Additional Assistance to Airports Impacted by Coronavirus
May 14, 2020
With Congress continuing to grapple with coronavirus relief and recovery efforts, we urge you to weigh in with your elected officials about the need to provide airports with additional resources to offset the dramatic drop in revenue and increased costs related to the pandemic.
Heroes Act: House Democrats yesterday unveiled the "Heroes Act," a $3 trillion coronavirus relief package that would provide funds to state and local governments and address a long list of other Democratic priorities. As we expected, the package does not contain another round of direct funding for airports. The lack of additional airport support at this point is not surprising given the impending distribution of CARES Act funding.
Republicans have rejected the House proposal, in part, because it comes so soon after Congress passed the initial CARES Act. Considering the strong Republican opposition in the Senate, it seems unlikely that Congress will quickly clear another massive coronavirus relief package. But lawmakers are continuing to explore other options including subsequent relief packages and a possible infrastructure bill that could help stimulate the economy and put people back to work.
Senate Hearing: Although it is unclear how all of this will unfold in the weeks and months ahead, we are urging Congress to provide another round of assistance to help airports deal with the coronavirus pandemic. AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli kicked off the discussion when he testified before the Senate Commerce Committee last week and urged lawmakers to continue helping commercial service and general aviation airports and the rest of the aviation ecosystem.
Hauptli thanked Congress for including $10 billion in the CARES Act to help airports. But he told lawmakers that airports will need at least that much in additional funding to help offset a dramatic drop in revenue and increased costs related to COVID-19. To help make the case for more funding, he cited ACI-NA's estimate that airports will lose $23.3 billion as a result of the pandemic. He also called on Congress to provide at least $1 billion to $2 billion for general aviation airports.
Hauptli pointed out that that airports are taking numerous steps to protect the health and safety of passengers and workers during the pandemic including cleaning and sanitizing facilities; upgrading air filtration systems; and promoting physical distancing. But he said that the aviation system needs clear and consistent federal guidelines and standards to protect passengers and workers now and as travel returns to the system.
Request: Please reach out to your elected officials to discuss how the coronavirus is impacting your airport. Please ask them to: 1) provide airports with additional resources to offset the dramatic drop in revenue and increased costs related to the pandemic; and 2) press for clear and consistent federal guidance on recovery efforts to ensure the highest levels of health and safety throughout the aviation system for travelers and workers alike.
Talking points are below, and a draft letter may be viewed here.
Talking Points
Heroes Act: House Democrats yesterday unveiled the "Heroes Act," a $3 trillion coronavirus relief package that would provide funds to state and local governments and address a long list of other Democratic priorities. As we expected, the package does not contain another round of direct funding for airports. The lack of additional airport support at this point is not surprising given the impending distribution of CARES Act funding.
Republicans have rejected the House proposal, in part, because it comes so soon after Congress passed the initial CARES Act. Considering the strong Republican opposition in the Senate, it seems unlikely that Congress will quickly clear another massive coronavirus relief package. But lawmakers are continuing to explore other options including subsequent relief packages and a possible infrastructure bill that could help stimulate the economy and put people back to work.
Senate Hearing: Although it is unclear how all of this will unfold in the weeks and months ahead, we are urging Congress to provide another round of assistance to help airports deal with the coronavirus pandemic. AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli kicked off the discussion when he testified before the Senate Commerce Committee last week and urged lawmakers to continue helping commercial service and general aviation airports and the rest of the aviation ecosystem.
Hauptli thanked Congress for including $10 billion in the CARES Act to help airports. But he told lawmakers that airports will need at least that much in additional funding to help offset a dramatic drop in revenue and increased costs related to COVID-19. To help make the case for more funding, he cited ACI-NA's estimate that airports will lose $23.3 billion as a result of the pandemic. He also called on Congress to provide at least $1 billion to $2 billion for general aviation airports.
Hauptli pointed out that that airports are taking numerous steps to protect the health and safety of passengers and workers during the pandemic including cleaning and sanitizing facilities; upgrading air filtration systems; and promoting physical distancing. But he said that the aviation system needs clear and consistent federal guidelines and standards to protect passengers and workers now and as travel returns to the system.
Request: Please reach out to your elected officials to discuss how the coronavirus is impacting your airport. Please ask them to: 1) provide airports with additional resources to offset the dramatic drop in revenue and increased costs related to the pandemic; and 2) press for clear and consistent federal guidance on recovery efforts to ensure the highest levels of health and safety throughout the aviation system for travelers and workers alike.
Talking points are below, and a draft letter may be viewed here.
Talking Points
- On behalf of _______ Airport, thank you for passing the CARES Act. The funding in the bill is providing a lifeline to airports, which are being severely impacted by the dramatic drop in passenger levels and revenues related to the coronavirus pandemic.
- CARES Act grants will allow airports to cover operating expenses, make debt payments, and keep key personnel employed at a time when there is little revenue coming in. At ______ Airport, we plane to use our CARES Act grant to __________.
- Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis is expected to have a severe impact on the aviation system for months and years ahead. Despite a slight uptick in travel recently, passenger levels are still down well more than 90 percent from where there were at the same time last year. And the road ahead seems rocky at best.
- Considering the enormous losses that airports are facing, we urge Congress provide airports with additional federal assistance at least as large as the initial amount provided in the CARES Act. ACI-NA estimates that airports will lose $23.3 billion over the next year due to the coronavirus.
- General aviation, concessionaires, business aviation and other airports partner also need assistance in order to survive the global pandemic. We urge Congress to provide general aviation airports with at least $1 billion to $2 billion to help offset their losses.
- As Congress considers subsequent coronavirus relief packages and possibly an infrastructure bill to help stimulate the economy and put people back to work, we urge you to provide airports with the resources they need to meet the significant challenges ahead.
- Finally, the entire aviation industry needs clear and consistent federal guidelines and standards to protect passengers and workers now and as travel returns to the system.
- Airports are taking steps to make their facilities safe during the pandemic. They are moving forward with enhanced cleaning and sanitization, upgrading HVAC systems, promoting physical distancing and exploring touchless travel options. But those operational and infrastructure improvements require additional investments.
- Additionally, we need clear and consistent processes and procedures throughout the aviation system so that passengers know what to expect regardless of the airline or airport they happen to choose for their travel.
- On behalf of _______ Airport, thank you again for your support during this crisis. I look forward to continuing to work with you to mitigate the impacts of the coronavirus and ensure that our aviation system is safe for passengers and employees alike.
