The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week advanced the Fair and Open Skies Act to consideration on the floor, and the pilots union known as the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) is applauding the move.
The bill proposes prohibitions on the U.S. Department of Transportation from issuing permits to flag-of-convenience airlines, which are airlines established in countries other than their home country to avoid the regulations of that country, labor standards included. Further, it makes the USDOT ensure any new foreign air carrier permit issued to a European airline is consistent with fair labor standards and fair competition requirements of the recently passed U.S.-E.U.-Norway-Iceland Air Transport Agreement.
“The Fair and Open Skies Act enables the Department of Transportation to prevent airlines with flag-of-convenience business models and other atypical employment practices from serving the United States,” ALPA said in a statement. “These venue-shopping efforts allow airlines to undermine workers’ pay, benefits, and work rules. In addition, they also threaten to erode the proactive safety culture that we have fostered here in the United States.”
Europe has made moves to cut down on these operations, and groups like ALPA want to see the same protections brought to the United States.
“ALPA calls on Congress to put a stop to these business schemes that undermine labor rights, safety, and the competitiveness of the U.S. airline industry and pass the Fair and Open Skies Act to help level the playing field and keep our skies safe,” ALPA said.