FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Captain Dennis Tajer, 847-902-8481; Gregg Overman, 817-302-2250/817-312-3901
ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION: “WE STRONGLY SUPPORT H.R. 2150 TO PREVENT FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE FROM DESTROYING OUR NATION’S AIRLINE INDUSTRY”
FORT WORTH, Texas (April 27, 2017) — The Allied Pilots Association leadership responded to the introduction of H.R. 2150, “Flags of Convenience Don’t Fly Here Act,” with a strong statement of support for the bill.
“We applaud Rep. DeFazio, Rep. LoBiondo, Rep. Larsen, and Rep. Ferguson for introducing this important legislation and taking a stand against the grave threat that flags of convenience pose to U.S. airline workers,” said APA President Capt. Dan Carey. “If permitted to go forward, flags of convenience would decimate our industry and destroy a great many U.S. jobs.”
H.R. 2150 would prohibit the Department of Transportation from issuing a permit to a foreign airline unless DOT determines that the airline is not establishing itself in a particular country just to avoid regulations — the very definition of “flag of convenience.” The bill would also require DOT to ensure that any new foreign air carrier permits issued to European airlines are consistent with the fair labor standards and fair competition requirements of the U.S.-EU-Norway-Iceland Air Transport Agreement.
“If left unchecked, the DOT’s recent decision to grant a foreign air carrier permit to Norwegian Air International will kick off a global race to the bottom,” Carey said. “The hundreds of thousands of hard-working men and women who keep our nation’s airlines flying will pay the steepest price.
“We therefore urge Congress to promptly approve H.R. 2150 to reinforce the labor standards in the U.S.-EU Open Skies Agreement and safeguard our nation’s airline industry.”
Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association — the largest independent pilots union in the United States — is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s website is www.AlliedPilots.org. American Airlines is the world’s largest passenger airline.