Nick Calio, President and CEO of Airlines for America (A4A), spoke today at the Aero Club of Washington’s inaugural lunch of the year. Emphasizing the urgency of addressing systemic issues, Calio highlighted the air traffic controller shortage and the lag in modernizing the FAA’s physical and technological infrastructure.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) in the U.S. has declared a $140 million civil fine against Southwest Airlines for several breaches of consumer security regulations throughout and after the functioning fiascos that annulled 16,900 flights and marooned more than two million passengers in the course of last year’s Christmas break and into the New Year. This fine is 30 times greater than any earlier DOT fine for consumer safety breaches. The bulk of the fine will go to recompensing future Southwest commuters impacted by invalidations or noteworthy deferrals triggered by the airline.