New Reason DOT Must Deny Norwegian Air’s Scheme

In the latest indication that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) must immediately deny Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) foreign air carrier permit application, a recent filing by the company at the DOT appears to confirm that it is attempting to evade Norway’s national laws and regulations to gain an unfair economic advantage over U.S. airlines.

On Tuesday, ALPA submitted a reply to NAI’s filing. ALPA asserted that NAI’s proposed operation is contrary to U.S. aviation statutes and to the intent of the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement. “The U.S.-EU air services agreement was not intended to allow companies to cheat the system to gain an unfair economic edge,” said ALPA President Capt. Lee Moak. “The U.S. government must unequivocally reject the NAI application, and the Irish government should not allow itself to be complicit in NAI’s scheme.”

“Norwegian Air International seeks to compete unfairly with U.S. airlines for international passengers by sidestepping its national laws and regulations and creating a race to the bottom on labor and working conditions,” said Capt. Moak. “Permitting NAI to engage in this kind of labor law shopping is not in the public interest, and it runs contrary to our air service agreement with the EU. It must not be allowed to stand.”