BOSTON, Mass. /eNewsChannels/ — Recently, the Department of Transportation (DOT) issued the most significant policy change concerning the air charter brokerage industry since 2004. The Air Charter Association of North America (ACANA), in keeping with its mission to protect the business interests of members and to foster a compliance disposition relative to the various regulatory agencies, played a pivotal role in shaping this recent policy shift.
In 2009 the DOT commenced a series of inquiries involving air charter brokers that were arranging air charter services for government agencies under the aegis of a General Services Administration (GSA) contract. The DOT’s initial position deemed it against the law for air charter brokers to act as agents of a government agency. However, for many years the GSA had awarded specific schedules to air charter brokers under which air charter services had been arranged. ACANA launched an aggressive campaign to inform and educate the DOT relative to the benefits and successful history of air charter brokers assisting government agencies with arranging air charter services.
ACANA provided a single, organized and unified response on behalf of the air charter brokerage community. The association also worked with the GSA in clarifying its position relating to government charter. Thus, on April 14, 2010 the DOT issued a final order granting certain air charter brokers with indirect air carrier status-specifically to provide air charter services on behalf of U.S. governmental agencies via a GSA award.
ACANA is pleased that the DOT has recognized that the air charter brokerage community continues to provide a valuable service to government agencies. The association’s role in influencing this policy change evidences its growing presence in promoting air charter brokerage standards and best practices.
About ACANA: The Air Charter Association of North America is a nonprofit organization consisting of the finest air charter service providers in the industry. Stringent membership requirements of ACANA ensure that its members adhere to the highest standards of ethics, integrity and professionalism. Providing a benchmark for excellence and professionalism for consumers is the association’s foremost priority.
For more information about ACANA, please visit www.flyacana.org .
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Story References: Air Charter Association of North America, ACANA, air charter brokerage industry, DOT, charter brokers that were arranging air charter services for government agencies under the aegis of a General Services Administration, Jonathan Tasler, nonprofit, GSA.
