Happy Birthday, Boeing! 100 years ago today, William Boeing formed the Boeing Company in Seattle, revolutionizing commercial air travel and military aviation for years to come. Since its inception in 1916, Boeing has committed itself to the safety and security of the flight crews and passengers who fly aboard its aircraft throughout the world, and ALPA pilots are proud to be an important part of its rich history. 

ALPA pilot groups across the country received significant media attention this week after industry announcements were covered by the press.

In Atlanta, Delta Air Lines pilots sent a strong message to management with the opening of a strike center. Capt. John Malone, chairman of the Delta MEC, cautioned that “while we are fully committed and have dedicated all necessary resources to reach an agreement this summer, we are preparing for any eventuality allowed to us under the Railway Labor Act, including efforts from informational picketing to a legal strike.”

Meanwhile, in Hawaii, pilots and frontline employees at Hawaiian Airlines were awarded top honors by Skytrax for having the Best Airline Staff Service in North America this year. This award was particularly meaningful for these ALPA pilots, who are also nearing a possible strike after stalled negotiations.

Capt. Hoon Lee, chairman of the Hawaiian MEC, reiterated that, “This recognition is further proof of the value of frontline employees in the financial success of our airline. At a time when Hawaiian is experiencing historic success, there is no reason for management to continue to ignore the role that pilots play in ensuring that our airline continues to lead the industry.”

Visit www.alpa.org for further information on issues affecting today’s pilots. 

Just as ALPA has been at the forefront of advancing aviation safety for 85 years, the evolution of technology has been a valuable asset for our industry. As unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) gained popularity, ALPA quickly recognized the future potential of these devices and worked with industry stakeholders and government regulators to ensure that the operation of these devices does not jeopardize the safety of our national airspace.

In recent months, UAS, or drones as they are commonly called, have flooded the commercial market. As more people take to the skies with their UAS, pilots around the world are witnessing more of these devices in shared airspace, a problem that ALPA has been working to reduce. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) recent decision to deny Norwegian Air UK’s (NAUK) foreign air carrier permit exemption was certainly a milestone in ALPA’s drive to ensure fair competition for U.S. airlines despite foreign airlines repeat attempts to use unfair business practices, but the fight is far from over.

The key to ALPA’s long-term success in defending a free marketplace? The extraordinary commitment of our members, airline passengers, and air cargo shippers to holding the U.S. government accountable for enforcing U.S. international agreements; and both NAUK and NAI, subsidiaries of Norwegian Air, conflict with U.S. agreements. 

The facts are as follows:  Norwegian Air already has authority to serve the United States. NAUK has not supplied adequate information to DOT about its employment plans so its potential effect on U.S. jobs cannot be evaluated. For these reasons, ALPA opposed NAUK’s application for a foreign air carrier exemption, which would allow it to fly while DOT considers its permit application, and we continue to oppose its application for a permit.

As we celebrate Independence Day and Canada Day, the U.S. Department of Transportation has taken a strong stand in defending a fair marketplace for U.S. airlines and their workers by denying Norwegian Air UK’s (NAUK) foreign air carrier permit exemption application.

NAUK’s employment structure for its pilots and flight attendants is unclear as is its potential effects on U.S. jobs and the international airline industry.

The United States and Canada must continue to enforce their international aviation trade policies to make certain that foreign airlines’ business plans will not threaten fair competition in the future.