Today, ALPA president Capt. Tim Canoll (center), joined by Delta MEC chairman Capt. Bill Bartels (left) and United MEC chairman Capt. Todd Insler (right), emphasized how the U.S. commercial airline industry is a golden opportunity for the Trump administration to capitalize on its pledge to put America first.
In a media teleconference, the three pilots, representing the largest pilots’ union in the world, called upon the new administration to defend U.S. trade agreements to safeguard U.S. airline jobs.
Listen to the media teleconference
Seizing on the administration’s focus to bolster the U.S. economy and jobs as well as President Trump’s meeting scheduled for tomorrow with U.S. airline executives, the ALPA pilot leaders applauded the administration’s focus on transportation infrastructure and aviation issues. With 11.2 million Americans employed in aviation-related fields and a total economic output of more than $807 billion, the industry deserves the attention and support from the highest levels of government.
“There is no doubt that a robust infrastructure initiative will prime the pump even further and enhance U.S. competitiveness,” said Capt. Canoll. “However, we are here today to make crystal clear that this good aviation news—the jobs and economic output—will be at risk if we do not roll back the Obama administration’s misguided deal to grant Norwegian Air International an unfair advantage and outsource American jobs. Norwegian Air International should not benefit from the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement while violating it.”
“In granting a permit to Norwegian Air International, the Obama administration did not put America first and instead gave a foreign carrier a competitive leg up, which now threatens the U.S. aviation industry and tens of thousands of American jobs,” said Capt. Insler, who represents 12,500 United pilots. “We are hopeful that President Trump will overturn the NAI decision and put U.S. jobs and American families first.”
“We support keeping these jobs in America, and we believe that President Trump will agree because of his commitment to putting America first,” said Capt. Bartels, who represents more than 13,500 Delta pilots. “President Trump galvanized millions of Americans around the simple idea that we should put America first, protect U.S. jobs and strongly enforce our trade agreements. NAI presents a significant threat to our industry.”
Pilots all across the country are urging the Trump administration to overturn DOT’s grant of a permit to NAI in order to safeguard fair competition for U.S. companies and jobs for American workers. More than 6,100 ALPA members have participated in the most recent Calls to Action to urge newly confirmed Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to take the first step necessary to reverse the decision to grant NAI’s application for a foreign air carrier permit.
For more information, visit alpa.org to #DenyNAI.