U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI)
In-Flight Survey Airline Users Group

Since late 1990, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries has met with a core group of the airlines who participate in the In-Flight Survey.

Why do we need an Airline Users Group?

The OTTI In-Flight Survey is a partnership between the U.S. Government and the airline industry to foster the development of travel to and from the United States. Because of our heavy reliance upon the airlines for cooperation and support to collect this data, want to ensure they continue to receive useful information in return for the effort. The Group allows the airline industry input on how the survey is conducted, and a means to exchange ideas on how to improve this research program.

Duties of the Airline Users Group:

The Group is used as a consultant for ideas OTTI has for this program. We would like to receive airline input on these ideas before all of the airlines in the survey are informed of our efforts. The Group will also be used to guide both participants and non-participants on the survey. Therefore, we try to have representatives from the different world regions: the North Atlantic, the Pacific, Latin America, and the United States. The work with participants will include helping OTTI find ways to improve the administration and participation rates for each carrier. With regard to non-participants, we will request advice on how to entice these airlines into the program. Our overall goal is to cooperatively work together to improve the In-Flight Survey.

We will meet up to two times per year, dependent upon the airlines, OTTI, and our contractors schedule. The meetings will cover selected topics related to In-Flight Survey (IFS) performance and activities. Meetings are usually held in Washington DC and at our contractor's home city.

Airlines represented on the Users Group:

North Atlantic Flag Carriers:

• Air France
• Lufthansa
• Swissair

Pacific Flag Carriers:

• All Nippon Airways
• Japan Airlines
• Singapore Airlines

Latin American Flag Carriers:

• Lan Chile
• Mexicana

United States Flag Carriers:

• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Northwest Airlines
• US Airways

If you are interested in learning more about the OTTI Airline Users Group, and you are work for an international airline that serves the U.S., please drop OTTI's Airline Users Group Coordinator a note and we will provide you with additional information on this Group. To be a member, your airline must be a participant of the In-Flight Survey program. Click here for a list of participating airlines.

CURRENT STATUS OF THE AIRLINE GROUP

Due to budget cuts for the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI), the airlines users group has not met since 1999. While OTTI would like to continue this group, a very difficult decision had to be made. The choice was to continue to meet with the airlines to improve the program, or to devote the resources available to survey as many travelers as possible. Given that the sample size is crucial to providing a representative, reliable sample to the industry, OTTI had no choice but to stop meeting.

If at all possible, OTTI would be very interested in resuming meetings with the airlines. If you have a creative suggestion on how to make this happen, OTTI would be extremely interested in hearing from you.

Please send your comments to OTTI's In-Flight Survey Coordinator.