ACI-NA members include 150 airport authorities across the United States, representing 97 percent of all airport traffic.

CNN: Airports resist new Y2K tests

But Richard Marchi, senior vice president of technical and environmental affairs at ACI-NA, said the proposal has not been well received by airport operators.

CNN: Airports resist new Y2K tests

Perhaps that's why ACI-NA's Principato joined May for the announcement Tuesday: to assure that America's airports aren't such a bad place to be stranded.

FORBES: Fuel Costs Could Trim Summer Air Travel. A Bit.

ACI-NA has been working closely with the FAA on Year 2000 issues and did not expect the agency to set such broad requirements, according to Marchi.

CNN: Airports resist new Y2K tests

Rather, ACI-NA expected the FAA to issue letters to specific airports that have systems with known Year 2000 problems and require them to fix or replace the equipment or face revocation of their safety certification.

CNN: Airports resist new Y2K tests