Some of Europe’s largest unions have urged the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to deny Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) application for a foreign air carrier permit.
The Association of Flight Attendants, European Transport Workers Federation and the International Transport Workers Federation have said the NAI wants the foreign licence so it can “circumvent worker protections by evading international labour laws”.
The unions have said if a licence is granted it will create “unfair competition with EU and US carriers” and “threaten to degrade labour standards both in Europe and the US”.
In February NAI were granted a temporary air operator’s certificate and operating licence enabling it to run from its base in Dublin.
NAI’s controversial decision to move its operations to Ireland has been criticised by parts of the industry that claim the main reason for the move is to bypass Norway’s strict labour laws, which would prevent it from hiring cheap workers.
NAI deny this claim and said the move is to gain access to future traffic rights to and from the EU.
It also said it chose Ireland over other EU countries because it has fully adapted the Cape Town Convention, which provides NAI with better financing conditions.
Francois Ballestero, the ETF Civil Aviation Political Secretary, said: “The attempt of Norwegian Air to import cheap labour from Asia by employing non-European cabin crew on its long-haul routes are an attack on working conditions of the existing workers.
“We urge the DOT to put an end to these unfair practices,” he added.
AFA international president Veda Shook said: “AFA remains committed to a healthy and robust global aviation marketplace that provides career opportunities and good jobs for workers across the world. Competition and growth are essential to our industry but we must remain dedicated to promoting strong labour standards.
“Skirting international laws in order to gain unfair advantage cannot be tolerated. We call on [transport] secretary [Anthony] Foxx to deny NAI’s current application before such labour practices become the norm in international aviation, triggering a race to the bottom.”
In March NAI CEO Bjoern Kjos said the delay in gaining the permanent licence has led to it suspending talks to purchase 20 Dreamliner planes from Boeing.
Norwegian.com