Washington has approved legislation that could prevent Norwegian Air from operating flights to the US because of concerns the airline will “dodge international labour rules”.
It still has to gain Senate approval before becoming law.
Norwegian is currently awaiting the US Department of Transportation’s decision for a foreign air carrier permit. However, if the legislation is approved Norwegian could be blocked from serving the US.
Strong opposition
Some of Europe’s largest workers’ unions have been strongly opposed to Norwegian Air gaining a licence that will enable the airline to operate from its Irish base in Dublin.
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, by hiring cheap Asian workers.
The airline deny this claim and said the move is to gain access to future traffic rights to and from the EU.
"Congress has a responsibility to make sure that US airlines do business in a fair marketplace and that the US government's transportation funds don't hand an advantage to foreign airlines that try to cheat the system," said Captain Lee Moak, president of the pilots union.
“We urge the US Senate to support the US House position and send a clear signal that Congress is committed to ensuring US airlines and their employees do business on a level playing field,” he added.
Superior wages
Norwegian Air spokesman Lasse Sandaker-Nielsen has called the criticism of low wages and a lack of safety "slanderous."
“Norwegian has already employed more than 300 American cabin crew members in Fort Lauderdale and New York, and is currently recruiting New York-based pilots for its 787 Dreamliner operation.
“Norwegian received almost 6,000 applicants for its 300 cabin crew positions. The company’s American employees say that their wages and benefits are superior to those of their counterparts at US airlines.
“Pilots flying intercontinentally have a global pay scale, which means that a long-haul pilot based in Norway makes about the same as a long-haul pilot based in Asia or the US.”
The airline added: “It is important to stress that Ireland was not chosen because the country has specific rules and regulations that allow the use of American or Asian crew, like some politicians and unions have claimed.
“The fact is that Norwegian could have based its long-haul company in any other European country and still used American and Asian crew, the way several other European airlines have been operating for years.”
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