Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has issued an executive order suspending
collection of the state's 4% tax on jet fuel, effective Aug. 1.
The move reverses the decision by the state legislature in
March to quash the tax break as punishment for Delta's decision to end its
National Rifle Association discount program after the high school
shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 dead.
Georgia has thus far collected more than $39 million in jet
fuel taxes this year.
In a statement, Deal said that the tax puts Georgia at a
disadvantage to several other states with airline hubs, including New York,
Florida, North Carolina and Texas. Airports infuse $62 billion into the Georgia
economy each year, he added.
The state is home to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport,
which is the largest in the world by passenger volume because of Delta's
enormous hub operation there.
"In order to remain the number one state in which to do
business, attract more companies to our communities and provide more jobs for
our growing population, it is crucial to maintain and preserve a pro-business
climate," Deal said.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian thanked Deal in a prepared statement
Monday.
"The savings will allow us to invest additional flights
into Georgia in the years to come," Bastian said. "We look forward to
continued growth of our service in Georgia and the job creation that will
accompany it."