Dear Colleague:

​We are all witness to how the COVID‐19 pandemic is damaging parts of the economy and, unfortunately, we have front‐row seats to the on‐going devastation to the travel sector. The upheaval and uncertainty for airport restaurant and retail companies and our employees is particularly catastrophic. Airport concessionaires and their employees are an integral part of any airport’s successful operations. We are a major economic driver, offer good entry level jobs with benefits, and enhance the airport experience while contributing more than $2.5 billion in non‐aeronautical revenue to airports.  

Dear Mr. President, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader McConnell:

​The Airport Restaurant & Retail Association (ARRA) and Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) represent a $10 billion industry made up of firms of varying sizes, including many small and local businesses which contribute $2.5 billion to airport revenue streams. Together these businesses - which include restaurants, gift shops and retail stores - employ more than 125,000 workers in U.S. airports and are a vital part of the airline passenger’s travel experience and a major revenue source on which airports depend for their operations, development and bond financing.