Delta asks frequent fliers to lobby Congress on tax

WASHINGTON — Delta Air Lines Inc. hopes to turn its frequent fliers into fervent lobbyists.

In e-mails being sent this week, Delta is urging roughly 2 million SkyMiles members to contact Congress. The Atlanta-based airline wants to build political support for its side in a battle over how to pay for upgrading the nation's air traffic control system and airports.

"You can help make a difference!" the e-mail says. "Please contact your Congressional representatives and ask them to: Quit forcing you to subsidize corporate jets through the current unfair ticket tax."

For fliers who fail to check their e-mail, the August edition of Sky Magazine, available in Delta planes, features a full-page essay with a similar message. And for passengers who don't read Sky, Delta will be making another pitch via video on all planes with in-flight entertainment systems starting Sept. 1.

In its messages, Delta argues that a growing flock of competitors — "corporate jets, fractional jets,

air-taxis and very light jets" — should no longer get a "free ride" while airline passengers disproportionately pay excise taxes to support the air traffic control system.

"Delta has an active and loyal customer base," company spokesman Kent Landers said, and when Delta asks people to get involved politically, "it can be very effective."

Landers noted that earlier this summer, the carrier prompted more than 60,000 passengers to sign an electronic petition submitted to the Department of Transportation. It urged DOT to help Delta get permission to fly from Atlanta to China.

Late last year, Delta also spurred many customers to tell officials in Washington they opposed a proposed takeover by US Airways Group Inc.

Landers said other major carriers are launching campaigns to get customers to contact Congress about changing the tax structure that funds the aviation system.

People involved with general aviation — those flights not involved in scheduled airline or military operations — are unhappy about the major carriers' ability to make political pitches to millions of frequent fliers, as well as captive audiences on planes.

"We're not going to be able to match their lobbying and PR capabilities," said Selena Shilad, executive director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America, a Washington-based coalition representing general aviation pilots, rural and agriculture groups and others opposed to overhauling the existing tax system.