Citing an air-travel environment that has reached crisis proportions, the board of directors of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events voted to create the Air Transportation Crisis Task Force, charged with examining and anticipating key air travel issues that will affect meetings and events, and recommending best practices on how members can deal with these challenges.

Among the issues that will be examined and monitored by the task force are the reduction or elimination of air service to cities, inconveniences imposed on business and meeting travelers, Transportation Security Administration–imposed obstacles, safety issues, and other matters that have the potential to reduce the number of attendees coming to events.

News, information, and tips on these issues will be delivered via the new IAEE Air Transportation Newsletter, which will launch in a matter of weeks.

Additionally, the IAEE board moved to launch a meeting of legislative representatives from member organizations to tackle air-travel issues. The objective of the meeting, which will be held in September in Washington, D.C., is to develop an IAEE legislative network of lobbyists to explore and advocate for issues of common interest and concern. Finally, the board voted to increase involvement with the Travel Industry Association, which has taken the lead on addressing air transportation concerns.