American Airlines spent $1.4 million lobbying in 1Q

The airline lobbied on legislation dealing with funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, security matters, climate change and emissions, a passenger bill of rights and other issues, according to the form posted online April 21 by the House clerk's office.

American, which is owned by Fort Worth, Texas-based AMR Corp., spent nearly $5.1 million to lobby the federal government in 2007.

The general aviation industry and commercial airlines disagree over how much each should have to pay for upgrading the nation's air traffic control system and other aviation programs. Congress has approved a temporary measure to continue FAA funding through June, but the larger issue of reauthorizing the agency is unresolved.

The House passed a bill in September that would have increased the jet fuel tax for noncommercial planes, the aviation gasoline tax and the cap on fees airports charge passengers for capital improvements. Commercial airlines and the Bush administration say the bill does not fairly link fees to system use, but the aircraft owners' association and other general aviation groups oppose user fees.

The Senate is working on similar legislation.

The state of New York passed an air travelers' bill of rights to give some recourse and relief to consumers, who've suffered through hour-long tarmac waits and thousands of cancellations this year. But that bill was struck down in March when an appeals court sided with industry arguments that said airlines must be regulated by the federal government, not individual states. Still, similar provisions are in the House bill.

Besides Congress, American Airlines lobbied the Environmental Protection Agency, and the departments of Transportation, Homeland Security and Commerce in the first three months of the year.

Michael Wascom, former counselor to the under secretary of the Transportation Department, is among those registered to lobby for the airline.