Pilots to challenge plans for Cork’s transatlantic flights

A European pilots’ association has vowed to challenge US plans to allow an Irish airline operate the first transatlantic flights from Cork Airport.

The European Cockpit Association (ECA), the representative body for more than 38,000 pilots in 37 EU states, criticised the decision to tentatively approve Norwegian Air’s Irish subsidiary, Norwegian Air International (NAI), to operate between Ireland and the US, and warned that the approval of this ‘flag of convenience’ model could erode labour standards and trigger a race to the bottom.

It follows the US Department of Transportation’s (DoT) announcement last Friday that it intends to award a foreign air carrier permit to NAI, which plans to launch a Cork-Boston service this year, and a Cork to New York service next year.