History and Background

The North American Airlines Public Relations Association (NAAPRA), is the professional association of public relations representatives from commercial airlines, airports, and industry partners such as manufacturers, all having offices in North America. Now in its 60th year, NAAPRA is comprised of public relations professionals of commercial airlines and their industry affiliates. It was established to offer a meeting ground for discussion of common industry situations and problems, and for the exchange of ideas. Founded in 1946 as the North American Public Relations Advisory Committee (NAPRAC) of IATA, it was reconstituted as the New York Airlines Public Relations Association (NYAPRA) in 1968 and then in 1993 the name was changed to North American Airlines Public Relations Association (NAAPRA) to more correctly reflect the geographic scope of the association. NAAPRA now has over 70 active, associate and emeritus members representing nearly 40 airlines and affiliated agencies and associations.

Meetings are held monthly, except July and August, mostly as luncheons, and usually in the conference room of a member in New York City. During these meetings press, or other guests of interest, are invited to talk about, and answer questions on, their particular area of expertise. NAAPRA generally has one out-of-city trip each year, often to Washington. DC. In years past there were out-of-country field trips and professional symposiums with distinguished journalists and aviation specialists as panelists.

Annually NAAPRA presents The Gene DuBois Award to an aviation journalist in recognition of Outstanding Aviation Reporting, in memory of Eugene DuBois, longtime Eastern Airlines New York Public Relations Manager, who passed away in 1975. This (2005) was the 30th year for the premier aviation journalistic award to be presented. To our knowledge this is the only such recognition of aviation journalism currently being awarded.

Active membership is open to public relations officers of airlines, as well as PR or press relations personnel of governmental agencies or industry trade associations, including schools or colleges, whose primary function is related to air transportation, with a North American office.