The ruckus over plans by what some have dubbed "Air WalMart" to establish a base in Ireland to compete as a long-haul, low-cost trans-Atlantic carrier continued this morning in Oslo.
Airline unions and pilots again asked Europen and U.S.-based authorities to deny Norway-based Norwegian Air's request for a long-haul license. At issue? Norwegian's plan to base its operations in Dublin, Ireland, and offer considerably lower fares from London to New York, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale.
By doing so, union officials say, Norwegian is avoiding taxes in its own country, regulations in its own country that would prohibit it from doing so, as well as creating an economic imbalance by using contracted flight crews instead of tull-time, union-based employees.
Norwegian received tacit approval from the European Union earlier this week, but U.S.-based airlines have balked at the arrangement.
According to Reuters News Service, Lee Moak, the president of the Air Line Pilots Association International, told a news conference in Oslo after meeting with Norwegian officials that "this setup will deny the workers their fundamental rights, the freedom to assemble, the freedom to collectively bargain."
Despite the furor in Norway, Norwegian has already pumped $53 million into its new home in Dublin and have been welcomed with open arms by the Irish Aviation Association.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is taking comments now before adding its opinion to the fray.
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