UPDATE!  With your feedback, we are pleased to announce that the TSA has agreed to provide updates to recent service and security enhancements it has made, and how joining TSA Pre-Check can speed up your security process at Airports.

Come hear TSA experts speak, and then a top Industry panel lead by Airlines for America, American Airlines, United, Lufthansa German Airlines, and Southwest will discuss  FAA and Open Skies Issues affecting travel now.

Open Skies agreements have vastly expanded international passenger and cargo flights to and from the United States, promoting increased travel and trade. 

But Open Skies has also allowed more access to the lucrative US Markets. Some foreign governments indirectly support their airlines, given these airlines do not face the same tax, regulatory and infrastructure burdens that U.S. airlines do.  This has prompted the Industry lobbyist group Airlines for America as well as some airlines to charge they are at an unfair competitive cost disadvantage.

Does Open Skies impact competition, fares and service?  

Add to the mix, the possible privatization of the the FAA, and the current staffing issues that face TSA. 

Divided largely along party lines, proponents of privatization argue the new private company could make changes to the Air Traffic Control system and bring about next Gen enhancements more quickly and cheaply than the F.A.A ,while reducing congestion and delays.

Opponents say there is no credible evidence that a privately operated system would be better than the current one.

Only two other major countries have privatized air traffic control, Canada and Britain, but their air systems are much smaller. Other countries like Germany and France run air traffic through government-owned companies. Delta, which is the only large airline so far, to oppose the plan, notes that air traffic control costs have increased more in Canada and Britain than in the United States since they privatized.

The bill could also disrupt the F.A.A.’s work to increase the nation’s flight capacity and reduce delays. That project is called Next Gen, and it has shown promising results.

How will the current staffing shortfalls of TSA affect travel and what should your clients do about it?

Come hear an Industry panel for a lively debate and discussion of these key issues and how they impact travel, costs, competition and safety.

 Scheduled Presenters' Bios:

• Natalie Hartman- Partner, Markham Group (Lufthansa)
• Howard Kass- Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, American Airlines
• Karen Kuhlman- Director of Congressional Affairs, United Airlines
• Sharon Pinkerton- Senior Vice President, Airlines for America
• David Richardson- Director of Governmental Affairs, Southwest Airlines
• John Sammons- Chief Marketing Officer, TSA
• Jarrod Thompson- Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Policy, A4A