AAA Offers `Safe Passenger Plan' to Bolster Consumer Confidence in Air Travel.

Business Editors/Travel Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2001

AAA today called on Congress to substantially strengthen airline security measures in order to restore the confidence Americans need to resume their normal travel activities.

AAA -- the largest leisure travel agency in North America -- unveiled its own five-point "Common Sense Safe Passenger Plan" to address lingering public concerns about the safety of air travel, recommended as part of any congressional legislation to address air safety issues.

In a letter to congressional leaders, AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet called for stringent inspection and screening of passengers and air travel personnel; accessible and timely information to travelers; federalization or strong government oversight of the screening process; equitable funding mechanisms; and mutual treatment of all customers.

"In a recent AAA survey of more than 1,000 randomly selected U.S. adults, only one-third of respondents characterized themselves as "very confident" in today's airport and in-flight security system," Darbelnet said.

"Negative perceptions about air travel safety have adversely affected business and recreational travel, at a high cost not only to the travel and tourism industry but to many other sectors of the economy," Darbelnet said. "These perceptions have also damaged consumer confidence in the airline system and, if left unchecked, will begin to eat away at America's freedom of mobility."

AAA's Common Sense Safe Passenger Plan also calls upon the Bush Administration, airlines, airport operators, tourism industry leaders and other stakeholders to establish and/or support the following five points:

-- An airline security force comprised of federal employees and/or strong
federal government oversight and enforcement of these screening regulations and
procedures. The debate over whether to federalize passenger and baggage
screening personnel should not prevent immediate passage of aviation security
legislation. The truth is the public is split on this issue and believes both
approaches could work, but Americans are unanimous in their support of stronger
federal oversight and accountability. The AAA survey on aviation security found
that 48 percent of respondents would support making security screening
personnel federal employees. Stronger support for federal regulation of airport
security operations was supported by 81 percent of those surveyed.

-- Stringent inspection and screening regulations and procedures that are
enforced consistently for all persons having access to aircraft, baggage and
cargo. These should include uniform minimum standards nationwide and procedures
for in-transit inspection and screening so that a security lapse at one airport
does not result in access throughout the nation's airport system without
further scrutiny. AAA's survey noted that 86 percent of the respondents said
uniform security measures should be enforced for all airports.

-- Accessible, effective and timely communication of information that helps
travelers make informed decisions about their travel plans, including how much
time they should allow and what baggage and carry-on requirements they must
follow.

-- Equitable funding mechanisms to enable the appropriate safeguards to be
quickly implemented including, but not limited to, passenger payments on a
"user fee basis" through a per-segment ticket surcharge. AAA believes any fees
imposed on passengers for critical security enhancements should be based on
objective cost analyses, and passengers must be assured that the entire
surcharge will be invested directly in security and not used to fund other
government programs or to reduce the federal deficit. Fifty-nine percent of
travelers in AAA's survey said they would pay an additional security charge on
an airline ticket.

-- Treatment of all customers, airline and airport staff, security personnel
and other members of the "air travel family" with respect, courtesy and
patience during these trying times.

"AAA believes that the best way to address the slowdown in travel is to restore consumer confidence in the safety of air travel," said Darbelnet. "This can be done by effectively communicating the facts about air travel safety, in conjunction with targeted regulatory action to address any weaknesses that exist in our air travel system."

AAA has more than 1,000 accredited, full service travel agency offices serving more than 44 million members and the public. Travel services include worldwide air, cruise and rail tickets; tour packages; hotel and car rental reservations; and a variety of travel insurance programs.

AAA news releases are available from http://www.aaa.com/news