Capt. Canoll in Aviation Daily: “A thunderous roar of opposition emerged from U.S. aviation workers and the public in the wake of the Transportation Department’s announcement April 15 of its tentative decision to approve Norwegian Air International’s application to fly to and from the U.S.”

As wildfire ravaged Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Canada, the pilots and staff of Canadian North Airlines mobilized to safely and efficiently transport people (and many four-legged friends) from Northern Alberta to Edmonton. The fire has destroyed more than 1,700 homes/buildings and forced the evacuation of more than 80,000 residents—the largest mass evacuation in the history of Alberta.

This week, ALPA is informing even greater numbers of Americans about the threat that Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) business plan poses to fair competition and U.S. jobs and why the Obama administration should deny its foreign air carrier application.

Last week, ALPA published a white paper outlining top policy priorities for ensuring that Canada’s airline industry maintains the highest safety and security standards while continuing to enhance efficiency, contribute to the national economy, and provide jobs for Canadian workers.

The white paper, titled “State of Our Skies Canada,” detailed several key policy recommendations that will assist in promoting aviation safety and security, as well as fostering careers for Canadian workers, now and in the future.

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.