Washington, DC, July 7, 2022. Media contact: media@raa.org
Regional Airline Association (RAA) President and CEO Faye Malarkey Black issued the following statement following President Biden’s July 6 nomination of Phillip A. Washington, presently CEO of Denver International Airport, as the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“This is a critical time for aviation, and we welcome strong leadership to address the many challenges ahead. Mr. Washington brings a solid transportation and military background and has earned the respect of his airport colleagues. Many small communities, including those relying on the Essential Air Service (EAS) program to support their air service, connect to the global air transport network through Denver International. From this vantage point, Mr. Washington will bring a keen understanding of the role regional airlines play in safely connecting communities of all sizes. We urge the Senate to swiftly hold confirmation hearings on this critical aviation safety post. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Agency to address challenges facing aviation and to protect and advance the highest level of aviation safety.”
About RAA
The Regional Airline Association (RAA) provides a unified voice of advocacy for North American regional airlines aimed at promoting a safe, reliable and strong regional airline industry. RAA serves as an important support network connecting regional airlines and industry business partners. In the United States, regional airlines operate 43% of scheduled passenger flights and provide the only source of scheduled air service to 66% of the nation’s airports. Regional airlines provide 75% or more of the air service in Alabama (81%), Alaska (87%), Arkansas (85%), Iowa (81%), Kansas (80%), Kentucky (76%), Maine (87%), Mississippi (94%), Montana (79%), North Dakota (87%), South Dakota (86%), Vermont (92%), West Virginia (92%). Regional airlines provide half or more of the air service in Idaho (74%), Illinois (54%), Indiana (59%), Michigan (60%), Minnesota (51%), Nebraska (65%), New Hampshire (73%), New Mexico (59%), North Carolina (56%), Ohio (56%), Oklahoma (55%), Oregon (62%), Pennsylvania (58%), Puerto Rico (71%), South Carolina (61%), Virginia (57%), Wisconsin (67%), and Wyoming (68%).