EU airline limits too lax, say groups

European Union governments have set a common limit on airline crews’ working hours that labour groups say will increase accident risks because it is too lax.

Transport ministers yesterday fixed the ceiling at 13 hours in daytime, with an extra hour possible twice a week, and 11 hours and 45 minutes at night for the pilots and other crew of carriers such as Air France-KLM Group and British Airways Plc.

The measures, which still need the European Parliament’s final approval, are part of the 25-nation EU’s efforts to unify air safety rules and ensure fair competition in a liberalised market.

“There are stricter limits in the EU for truck drivers and for transport of animals,” said Ignacio Plaza, acting secretary general of the European Cockpit Association, representing 34,000 pilots and flight engineers.