Airlines for America AssociationAirlines for America (A4A), formerly known as Air Transport Association of America, Inc. (ATA), was the first and remains the only trade organization of the principal U.S. airlines. Founded by a group of 14 airlines meeting in Chicago in 1936, the organization played a major role in all the major government decisions regarding aviation since its founding. A4A serves its member airlines and their customers by assisting the airline industry in providing the world’s safest system of transportation; transmitting technical expertise and operational knowledge among member airlines to improve safety, service and efficiency; advocating fair airline taxation and regulation worldwide to foster an economically healthy and competitive industry; and by developing and coordinating industry actions that are environmentally beneficial, economically reasonable and technologically feasible.