A number of airports attending the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Air Service/Energy Task Force outlined 10 to 20 percent reductions in service in 2008 compared to 2007, and, in some cases, losses will be between 60 and 100 percent. General aviation airport representatives, including the National Business Aviation Association, also highlighted reduced flying by both turbine- and piston-powered aircraft operators. The July 9 meeting included representatives of more than 50 airports of all sizes from across the country, gathered to discuss and address increased fuel prices and their impact on air service nationwide.
“The aviation fuel crisis is beginning to have a significant impact on air service to communities across the country, as airport executives made abundantly clear during this important task force meeting,” said AAAE Chair and Aspen/Pitkin County Director of Aviation Jim Elwood, A.A.E. “The situation is stark and demands immediate attention from Washington decision-makers.”
In addition to forming the task force, AAAE hosted an industry Energy/Air Service Summit on July 10. The one-day event gathered nearly 200 senior airline and airport representatives, leaders from Congress, federal agencies including DOT and FAA, energy sector officials, as well as financial experts to analyze the situation and discuss possible strategies and outcomes. AAAE teamed up with 10 other industry organizations in hosting the summit, including the South Central Chapter/AAAE, the Air Transport Association, International Air Transport Association, Airports Council International-North America, the Regional Airline Association, the National Business Aviation Association, the Air Line Pilots Association, the National Air Carrier Association, the Air Carrier Association of America, and the Cargo Airline Association.
Airports represented at the initial AAAE task force meeting included Alaska Ted Stevens International Airport, Asheville Regional Airport, Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, Bangor International Airport, Bert Mooney Airport, Beverly Municipal Airport, Brunswick (Ga.) Golden Isles Airport, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, DuPage Airport, Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Harrisburg International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Hector International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Little Rock National Airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans Int'l Airport, Louisville Regional Airport , Lynchburg Regional Airport, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport, Memphis International Airport, Metropolitan Knoxville Airport, Missoula International Airport, Monterey Peninsula Airport, Morristown Municipal Airport, Naples Municipal Airport, Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Auth., Pittsburgh International Airport, Port Columbus International Airport, Providence/T.F. Green International Airport, Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Richmond International Airport, San Diego International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, St. Joseph County Airport, Stewart International Airport, The Eastern Iowa Airport, Toledo Express Airport, Tulsa International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Wilmington (N.C.) International Airport.