The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today announced support for President Obama’s nomination of Duane E. Woerth as the new U.S. representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO):

“President Obama has made a strong choice in nominating Duane Woerth to this important position. ICAO plays a critical role in all aspects of aviation around the world, and the leadership provided by the United States in its deliberations is of vital importance. Duane will bring exceptional skills and experience to the Council as the U.S. representative. He is a highly experienced pilot, a respected labor leader, and a staunch advocate for safety and environmental stewardship,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “We look forward to working closely with Duane and support his prompt confirmation.”

Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. On a daily basis, U.S. airlines operate approximately 25,000 flights in 80 countries, using more than 6,000 aircraft to carry an average of two million passengers and 50,000 tons of cargo.

ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional industry information, visit www.airlines.org.

SOURCE Air Transport Association of America