The comments follow reports that the administration is drawing up plans to withdraw US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from airports in ‘sanctuary cities’ which could legally prevent those airports from processing international arrivals and cargo.
‘Efficient, reliable, and secure entry into the US is foundational to both leisure and business travel,’ the association’s CEO Suzanne Neufang said in a statement over the weekend. ‘Disruptions to CBP operations could create delays, uncertainty and congestion at critical entry points into the US. These challenges would have cascading effects across business activity, international commerce and supply chains that depend on the seamless movement of people and goods.’
Neufang says business travel, in particular, depends on predictability and confidence in the travel experience. GBTA’s latest economic impact data shows that international inbound business travel spending in the US represents $50.7 billion annually, supporting jobs, investment and economic growth across the nation.
‘GBTA urges the US Administration to assess the real-world impacts of these changes on travellers, businesses, the aviation system and the US economy as a whole. Policies must protect national security while ensuring the US remains accessible, competitive and open for business.’
