The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)—the voice of the business travel industry—today applauds Congress for passing the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013.

The Reducing Flight Delays Act gives the U.S. Secretary of Transportation the flexibility to transfer discretionary funds into the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) operations budget to prevent reduced staffing and operations, such as the current furloughs of air traffic controllers.

Under the bipartisan agreement to end growing flight delays and travel disruptions from reduced controller staffing, the budget cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 would be reached from cost reductions in other FAA efforts.

“We are pleased to see Congress recognize that disrupting air travel was the wrong approach to dealing with our Nation’s budget issues. Safe, efficient air travel ensures U.S. businesses remain competitive.  With nearly 40 million business trips a month, these road warriors are driving economic and employment growth,” said GBTA Executive Director and COO, Michael W. McCormick .