Appropriations Panel On Transportation Recommends The DOT Not Issue A Foreign Air Carrier Permit To Norwegian Air International

In language drafted by the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development related to funding for FY2016 for the Department of Transportation (DOT), the panel would prohibit the DOT from issuing a foreign air carrier permit if it conflicts with the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement.

The action was praised by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, which has strongly opposed such a certificate for Norwegian Air International (NAI).
 
“ALPA commends the members of the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee for affirming its broad opposition to any foreign air carrier permit application that conflicts with the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement," the union said in a statement.
 
“We applaud the subcommittee for recognizing the harm posed to U.S. industry and U.S. workers by business models such as Norwegian Air International (NAI), which seeks to avoid tax and employment laws and circumvent international agreements to gain an unfair competitive edge against U.S. airlines and their workers in the global marketplace.
 
“In September 2014, the DOT dismissed NAI’s request for a temporary foreign air carrier operating authorization, which would have allowed it to operate to U.S. markets while its permit application is pending. The Subcommittee’s passage of this language makes clear that U.S. lawmakers adamantly oppose business models such as NAI and that the U.S. DOT must reject its foreign air carrier permit application.”

FMI: www.alpa.org