International Aviation: DOT's Efforts to Promote U.S. Air Cargo Carriers'Interests

摘要

In 1995, the value of U.S. exports and imports moving by air was $355 billion,accounting for 27 percent of all U.S. trade. U.S. all-cargo airlines carried about 60 percent of the freight hauled by U.S. airlines. But all-cargo airlines often face obstacles in operating abroad that lessen their efficiency and competitiveness. Concerned about the international interests of U.S. all-cargo airlines, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of its Subcommittee on Aviation asked GAO to address the following questions: What are the problems that all-cargo airlines face in doing business abroad, and what actions have the affected airlines and the U.S. government taken to resolve these problems; To what extent has the U.S. government addressed air cargo issues in policymaking and during bilateral aviation negotiations, and what are the possibilities for separating negotiations of air cargo services from broader negotiations that include passenger services. For this report, GAE surveyed the 26 U.S. airlines authorized by DOT and operating international all-cargo services as of September 1995. Twenty-two responded, including three major airlines, nine national airlines, and nine regional airlines. These airlines carried about 60 percent of the frieght hauled by U.S. airlines in 1994.