In just two weeks, more than 15,000 ALPA pilots have declared ironclad opposition to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) tentative decision to allow Norwegian Air International (NAI) to fly to the United States. The reason? The airline’s business plan would undermine fair competition for U.S. airlines, labor standards for U.S. workers, and the intent of a U.S. international trade agreement.
Thousands of concerned passengers, air cargo shippers, and other airline employees have joined them. Recently, lawmakers also introduced legislation requiring that the DOT enforce the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement. ALPA commends Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), and Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) for standing up for U.S. airline workers and introducing this bipartisan legislation.
As I stated in a recent news release, Congress has clearly spoken out because tens of thousands of U.S. airline jobs depend on these international airline routes. If one company is allowed to ignore the principles of U.S. air transport agreements, others will try to do so as well, and the result could jeopardize the billions of dollars that airlines and their workers contribute to the U.S. economy.
ALPA is simply asking the DOT to enforce the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement and its provisions regarding labor standards for airline workers. That’s something U.S. companies and workers should surely be able to count on from their government, isn’t it?
Whether you’re an airline passenger, air cargo shipper, airline employee, or have family or friends who work in the industry, stand up for fair and free competition. Urge the U.S. government to enforce its trade agreements and #DenyNAI today!