Following the recent House introduction of legislation aimed at protecting American airline jobs and combating anti-U.S. worker schemes, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) announced its strong support of the measure.
The Flags of Convenience Don’t Fly Here Act was introduced this week by U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Drew Ferguson (R-GA) in an attempt to ensure aviation jobs remain in America.
“Given President Trump’s stand on U.S. jobs and his pledge to put ‘America First,’ we urge Congress to enact this measure and send it to the president for his signature,” ALPA President Tim Canoll said. “This bill is critical to keeping America’s economy growing, and our jobs here in the United States.”
International operations at U.S. airlines contribute to $95 billion each year to the American economy, directly employing 151,000 workers. While economically positive, such operations can lead to the establishment of flag-of-convenience business models. A flag-of-convenience airline is a carrier that is established in a country outside of the home country of its majority owners to avoid regulations of the home government. Often used to decrease labor costs, ALPA has taken a stand against the use of flag-of-convenience schemes, arguing they are detrimental to the U.S. aviation industry.
“Flag-of-convenience schemes threaten our aviation industry, which fuels the U.S. economy, transports passengers and cargo from towns large and small throughout America to destinations worldwide, and provides thousands of U.S. jobs for airline employees,” Canoll said. “This bill will ensure that foreign carriers are held to the same standards of competition as our domestic carriers, leveling the playing field.”
ALPA, founded in 1931, is the largest airline pilot union in the world, representing more than 55,000 pilots at 32 airlines in the United States and Canada.