Lobbying outlays by the top seven largest spenders in the airline industry totaled roughly 12 percent more in the fourth quarter of 2023 than the same time a year earlier, as interest peaked around efforts to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration.
Those seven spent $29.9 million in 2023, a year that brought a post-pandemic surge in flight travel, an air traffic controller shortage and consumer frustration with flight delays, cancellations and fees, according to the latest disclosures. For all of 2023, the top seven spent roughly 30 percent more on lobbying than a year earlier.
United Airlines, which has shown deep interest in opposing an FAA reauthorization bill proposal that would add more flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, led the pack in 2023 lobbying. Although its spending dipped in the fourth quarter, United Airlines ended the year with a total of $9 million — $3 million more than the second highest airline spender, Airlines for America, an industry group.
