In a move designed to better represent the industry's "vital role of literally connecting the United States to the global economy," the trade association representing U.S. airlines has changed its name from the Air Transport Association to Airlines for America (A4A), it announced this month.
Along with its new name, the organization also introduced a redesigned website; a new visual identity, including a new logo with five connected aircraft that shows "the unity of America's airlines in their shared goal of being global models of safety, customer service and environmental responsibility"; and a new tagline, "We Connect the World," that reflects the fact that commercial aviation drives more than 10 million U.S. jobs, more than $1 trillion a year in economic activity and 5 percent of U.S. GDP.
"In the 75-year history of our association, we have supported America's airlines as they changed travel, trade and tourism across the United States and became today's indispensable facilitators of the global economy, now transporting more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic," said A4A CEO and President Nicholas E. Calio. "As the U.S. looks to compete in growth markets overseas and increase exports and create jobs across the country, our airlines will play an even greater role. A4A is acutely aware of the progress and competitive advantages taking place in international markets to build and leverage commercial aviation to support growth. Our focus is to work cooperatively with the administration and Congress to create a tax and regulatory environment that enables U.S. airlines to provide the service needed to compete globally."
According to A4A, its members — all principal U.S. airlines — move about 2 million passengers and 50,000 tons of cargo every day, making commercial aviation the third-largest sector contributing to the U.S. economy. For more information, visit www.airlines.org.