Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

Washington, DC (June 30, 2016) – After months of intense pressure from a broad labor coalition, including the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) today denied an exemption for a foreign air carrier permit to Norwegian Air UK. AFA urges the DOT to close the door on Norwegian UK permanently by rejecting the foreign air carrier permit outright.

AFA International President Sara Nelson issued the following statement:

“The DOT’s decision to deny an exemption for Norwegian UK is particularly important as the department continues to consider the Norwegian Air International (NAI) foreign air carrier permit.  Norwegian, with its current foreign air carrier permit, can fly all of its proposed subsidiary routes today. Aviation workers deserve strong job protections in foreign trade agreements. Norwegian’s attempts to obtain foreign air carrier permits for different subsidiaries is a purposeful effort to undermine strong labor laws across the world.

“Today’s decision is a positive step for flight attendants and all aviation workers. Now, it is imperative that the DOT reject Norwegian UK’s and NAI’s applications for a foreign air carrier permits. We must enforce the agreements we make and protect good jobs in aviation as intended.”

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The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 70 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.