Roger Dow, President and CEO of the Travel Industry Association (TIA) said in a testimony before the House Small Business Committee that many of the air travel processes have become frustrating. Notable among them are the inefficient security screening and flight delays and cancellations. He noted that over the past year alone, such frustrating factors have caused the passengers avoid not less than 41 million trips. According to Dow, security and air traffic control are the main cause of most flight delays and cancellations. However, both are within the purview of the federal government.

Dow noted, "The problem America faces today is that our air travel system is in steep decline. This is not a problem solely for the aviation community, but for business across America."

Recently, TIA partnered with Peter D. Hart Research Associates and The Winston Group - two of the nation's premier political polling firms - to encourage a better understanding of concerns of the travelers with the processes of air travel, in addition to highlighting the effects of these processes over the decision of the passengers to fly. The TIA survey considered issues other than costs and the recent shoot up of fuel prices. A random sampling of more than one thousand travelers was conducted between May 6 and May 13.

Talking of the results, Dow noted, "The survey revealed that deep frustration among air travelers led them to avoid an estimated 41 million trips during the 12 months preceding the survey. Together, the direct and indirect costs of a broken air travel system approach $70 billion per year."