Norwegian claims EC support for US services; ALPA cites safety concerns

摘要

Norwegian Air International (NAI), the long-haul arm of low-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian Air Shuttle, has claimed European Commission support in its efforts to gain US approval to fly between Europe and the US. Some US and European carriers and trade unions have complained that NAI is setting up under a "flag of convenience" by registering itself in Ireland to avoid Norway's strict social and employment legislation, a charge the airline denies. In an August filing, NAI notified the US Department of Transportation (DOT) of the European Commission's view that parties to the US-EU Open Skies Agreement cannot unilaterally deny NAI's application to serve the US on the basis of Article 17, which states that the opportunities created by the agreement are not to be used to undermine labor standards. NAI cited the commission's views from a meeting between US and commission officials, where the latter were asked their views on whether a party to Open Skies could unilaterally deny an application of the other party based on the so-called "social dimension" provision of the agreement-a key argument by NAI's opponents who have been urging DOT to deny NAI's application.