Aviation

Modernizing Aviation Infrastructure:

“As our airports are seeing a pre-pandemic level of passenger demand, it’s important that we continue to invest in our airport infrastructure to prepare for future growth.” – Sen. Cantwell

Home to the world’s first flight, the United States leads the world in aviation innovation– but our airports lag far behind. Sen. Cantwell worked to secure $25 billion for airport infrastructure, supporting several programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve and modernize the nation’s airports, terminals and air traffic control towers.

Thanks to these investments, airline passengers will benefit from modernized facilities and notice basic comfort improvements like upgraded restrooms, shorter waits at baggage claims, and less-crowded passenger terminals.

Behind the scenes, improvements to runways, taxiways and maintenance structures will help strengthen airport operations and keep flights on time. And investments in our nation’s air traffic control systems will help maintain America’s leadership in airline passenger safety.

Upgrading Airport Infrastructure: Invests $15 billion for Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) to improve airport runways, taxiways, fund safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects.
Modernizing Terminals: Invests $5 billion to modernize our airport infrastructure, expand capacity at terminals, increase energy efficiency and provide greater accessibility for travelers with disabilities.
Improving and Replacing Air Traffic Control Facilities: Invests $5 billion to upgrade and replace air traffic control towers, power systems and security, and improve environmental safety, navigation and weather tracking.

Cutting Aviation Emissions:

“We know from smoky skies and record temperatures that we need to do more to address the climate crisis. Air travel is still one of the most carbon-intensive activities individuals can engage in. Our main challenge now is to develop a dedicated industry of [sustainable aviation fuel] suppliers, refiners and blenders who produce that fuel in significant quantities and at the right price point. That’s why we’re supporting…a new competitive grant program…[that] would help build the infrastructure to produce sustainable aviation fuel and get it where it is needed.”
– Sen. Cantwell

Air travel accounts for 11 percent of U.S transportation-related emissions, and 2.5 percent of global emissions. Without action, the global carbon footprint of aviation is expected to triple by 2050. The Inflation Reduction Act made historic economic investments in fighting climate change, including $297 million for Sen. Cantwell’s new Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Low-Emissions Aviation Technology Grant Program.

Sustainable aviation fuel has the potential to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent in comparison to conventional petroleum-based jet fuel.

For all Americans, sustainable aviation fuel will help us reduce carbon in the atmosphere to stem the increase of extreme weather events.

For airline travelers, increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel will help lessen our dependence on conventional jet fuel, which could reduce flight fare prices as conventional fuel gets more expensive.

This new industry will also create domestic jobs and economic opportunities for farmers, manufacturers, start-ups and others in the alternative fuels supply chain.

“The continued growth of the aviation industry and its many benefits to travelers and our economy depends on decarbonizing the sector.” – Sen. Cantwell

Sen. Cantwell hosts a press conference on sustainable aviation fuel at Sea-Tac Airport
with representatives from the Port of Seattle, Alaska Airlines, Washington State University,
Climate Solutions and SkyNRG in October 2021

Sen. Cantwell discusses the benefits of sustainable aviation fuel
with Department of Energy Secretary Granholm at Sea-Tac Airport in August 2022

Improving Aviation Workforce Development:

“We’re ensuring that the U.S. aviation system remains the gold standard for the world, and I’m grateful to hear from Arizonans on the frontlines who spend their time thinking about safe and efficient aviation. Our field hearing provided invaluable perspective into how we can continue partnering with aviation industry leaders and workers to ensure their needs are met and our aviation workforce remains strong.” - Sen. Sinema, Chair of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation

Given the impact of the pandemic and increasing air travel demand, addressing workforce challenges facing the aviation industry is a key priority. In May 2022, Aviation Subcommittee Chair Sen. Sinema held a field hearing at United Airlines’ United Aviate Academy in Arizona to discuss the aviation industry’s greatest challenges and opportunities, with a focus on aviation workforce development needs. Sen. Sinema highlighted that with support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Arizona airports are expected to receive at least $360 million in additional federal support over the next five years, which will help create more jobs.

Sen. Sinema chairs a May 2022 aviation subcommittee hearing in Goodyear, Arizona,
and discusses the need to invest in and diversify the aviation workforce.

Protecting Aviation Jobs:

The pandemic was an existential crisis for the aviation manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul industries. Air travel demand dropped by 96 percent to a level not seen since the 1950s, and Boeing and Airbus cut production of most aircraft models by 30-50 percent.

The Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection (AMJP) Program provided $673 million to stabilize the aviation manufacturing industry. Sen. Cantwell led the effort to establish and secure funding for the program in the American Rescue Plan that was enacted in March 2021.

For many aviation workers, the AMJP saved their jobs. Nationwide, nearly 31,000 jobs were protected at a total of 593 aviation manufacturing companies across 43 states and Puerto Rico, including an estimated 3,150 aerospace jobs in the State of Washington.

For aviation manufacturing companies, the AMJP helped keep expert employees from leaving the industry so they could maintain the U.S. aviation manufacturing supply chain.

In the State of Washington, Tacoma-based aviation manufacturer Tool Gauge received more than $600,000 to protect the jobs of 38 employees.

“We [knew] that when the downturn of aviation demand happened during COVID, that we were going to need to do something to help stabilize the supply chain. We knew that when our economy started to rebound and that aerospace demand started to return, that if we had lost these jobs…we might not ever get them back. And with this level of critical skill, we knew that our region could not afford to lose one more aviation worker.”

“Aviation is starting to hire, and we’re thankful these programs made it through this incredibly difficult COVID period for all of us.” – Sen. Cantwell

Sen. Cantwell visited Tool Gauge, an AMJP recipient, in Tacoma, Washington, in February 2022

Implementing Aviation Safety Reforms:

“This important legislation, enacted into law almost a year ago, I believe, provided a big down payment on the direction that we need to go to implement safety reforms in the United States, and to make us the gold standard around the world. That is why we're here today to have this hearing. To determine whether the Federal Aviation Administration, has faithfully and vigorously executed the safety reform law in accordance with congressional mandates for deadlines and action.” - Sen. Cantwell

Sen. Cantwell has made ongoing oversight of the FAA’s implementation of the Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act (ACSAA) a top priority. Enacted in December 2020, ACSAA is a bipartisan and bicameral law that strengthens aviation safety reform in response to the Boeing 737 MAX tragedies.

Sen. Cantwell convened a hearing in November 2021, asking then-FAA Administrator Steve Dickson to discuss the status of the FAA’s implementation of the aviation safety reform law. The hearing focused on keeping the flying public safer by strengthening oversight over aircraft manufacturers.

Former FAA Administrator Steve Dickson answers questions from Commerce Committee members
with families of the ET-302 crash victims in attendance

Aircraft Certification Reform – Aviation Safety Whistleblower Report:

Sen. Cantwell released the Aviation Safety Whistleblower Report in December 2021, as part of the Committee’s ongoing oversight over the aircraft design and certification of the Boeing 737 MAX and the implementation of key congressional aviation safety reform mandates.

The Aviation Safety Whistleblower Report detailed information provided to the Committee by seven whistleblowers, including accounts of undue pressure from the industry to shortcut approvals, failure of the FAA and industry managers to listen to line engineers and chronic understaffing and decreasing technical expertise at the FAA's Boeing Aviation Safety Oversight Office. Sen. Cantwell wrote a letter to former FAA Administrator Steve Dickson urging the FAA to review the whistleblower concerns and implement appropriate improvements to aviation safety in response.

“Whistleblowers play a valuable role by coming forward. In this case, they illuminated important aviation safety issues. I’m grateful to these whistleblowers who gave the committee invaluable insight in crafting the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act.” – Sen. Cantwell

Oversight of the U.S. Airline Industry:

“By ensuring airlines had funding to continue to pay their employee’s wages, salaries, and benefits, the Payroll Support Program saved the jobs and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers."
- Sen. Cantwell

Sen. Cantwell and the Commerce Committee oversaw the implementation of the Payroll Support Program (PSP) relief for U.S. airline workers whose livelihoods were put in jeopardy by historically low air travel demand due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PSP funds saved hundreds of jobs for airline workers – the first round of PSP relief alone saved 386,200 direct U.S. airline jobs. By keeping critical staff employed, the funds allowed airlines to ramp up operations quickly once pandemic restrictions were eased, allowing Americans to resume air travel faster than people in other countries.

Airline executives from American, Southwest, United, Delta and
the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA testify before the
Senate Commerce Committee in December 2021.
The first time in 10 years that airline executives testified before Congress.

Strengthening Airline Consumer Protections - Airline Ticket Refunds:

The pandemic shed light on the growing consumer concerns about the reliability of the airline industry’s operations and policies for issuing refunds and travel vouchers. In 2020, consumers filed more than 29,687 refund complaints against U.S. airlines, a 4,634% increase over 2019. Recently, with the Southwest airline travel disruptions over the 2022 holiday season, more than 16,700 flights were canceled, leaving passengers stranded.

In May 2022, Sen. Cantwell joined Sen. Markey and Sen. Blumenthal in sending a letter urging the DOT to strengthen the proposed rule to ensure that consumers are fairly compensated – including secondary costs incurred from hotels, meals and transportation in the event of a cancellation or a significant delay due to a problem within the airline’s control. Leveraging the Commerce Committee’s oversight of the Department of Transportation and with collaboration from Sec. Buttigieg, new requirements are expected to improve the situation.

“This rulemaking is a critical response to the increase in flight cancellations and delays during the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in a record number of consumer complaints about the refund process,” Sens. Cantwell, Blumenthal and Markey wrote in the letter.

New regulations will mean that airline passengers will have a better understanding of their consumer rights and expanded eligibility to receive refunds and travel vouchers. A new Airline Customer Service Dashboard makes it easier to find out what accommodations each airline will provide consumers to ensure more transparency before booking flights.

View the DOT Dashboard

2023 FAA Reauthorization Kick-Off:

In September 2022, Sen. Cantwell, Sen. Sinema and the Commerce Committee kicked off the first in a series of hearings in preparation of 2023 FAA Reauthorization. The hearing focused on new entrants to aviation, including advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).

Aviation is evolving to include new innovations, such as electric propulsion-powered aircraft being developed by Eviation, a company in the State of Washington.

These innovations could give Americans faster, cleaner options for traveling between cities that are miles apart in both urban and rural areas rather than having to drive or take a bus.

Sen. Cantwell with the Seattle Times headline highlighting
the first successful test flight of Eviation’s Alice -
“We’ve…made aviation history: All-electric airplane takes flight above WA”

Commerce Members Sen. Sinema and Sen. Moran introduced the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act to promote interagency coordination and coordination with stakeholders to develop a national AAM strategy. Sens. Moran and Padilla introduced the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act to provide FAA planning grants to eligible states, localities, airport sponsors and others to assist in the preparation and development of infrastructure necessary to support the deployment of AAM aircraft. Both bills passed by the Commerce Committee and were enacted during the 117th Congress.

Increasing Flight Attendant Rest Hours:

“Flight attendants perform critical safety roles on behalf of the flying public and have long deserved the same rest periods afforded to pilots. Thank you to the flight attendant workforce for their leadership and sustained advocacy on this important safety reform.”
–Sen. Cantwell.

Sen. Cantwell has long supported increasing flight attendant rest periods to be the same 10 hours of rest required for pilots and fought to include this new rule in the previous FAA reauthorization bill.

In October 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration adopted this change.

Having properly-rested flight attendants aboard all aircraft helps ensure a safe and more pleasant flying experience for all Americans and helps the mental and physical health of more than 100,000 flight attendants in the United States.

FAA and unions representing airline flight attendants at DCA announce the rule increasing flight attendant rest hours

117th Congress Accomplishments

Aviation

January 25, 2023

Modernizing Aviation Infrastructure:

Read More About the Airport Infrastructure Investments

Cutting Aviation Emissions:

Read More About Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Improving Aviation Workforce Development:

Read More About the Hearing

Protecting Aviation Jobs:

Read More About the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program

Implementing Aviation Safety Reforms:

Read More About this Oversight Hearing

Aircraft Certification Reform – Aviation Safety Whistleblower Report:

Read More About the Report

Oversight of the U.S. Airline Industry:

Read More About the Airline Oversight Hearing

Strengthening Airline Consumer Protections - Airline Ticket Refunds:

Read More About the Airline Ticket Refund Rulemaking

View the DOT Dashboard

2023 FAA Reauthorization Kick-Off:

Read More About the New Entrants Hearing

Increasing Flight Attendant Rest Hours:

Read More About this Announcement