All those who want to be hired at any US carrier should actively participate in keeping the pressure on the US DOT to deny Norwegian's operating certificate. Reporting from inside the beltway types acknowledge that if Certificate of Convenience schemes are allowed it would likely be the beginning of the end for US Certificated Carriers as they currently exist.

Norwegian, as currently designed, is managed from Ireland using temporary staffing from an agency based in the city-state of Singapore. It is structured this was so as to enjoy EU open skies while avoiding compliance with EU labor law.

It is no coincidence that Norwegian's model follows that of the cruise ship industry ... which avoids safety oversight and employes nearly no US citizens.

Of course, NAI is putting the screws to Boeing by tying US Certification with a 20 jet 787 order. Boeing has probably the largest and most effective lobbying force on Capital Hill.

The US DOT should NOT approve Norwegian's Certificate. Art. 17 of the US-EU Air Transport Agreement - "the parties shall not subvert labour standards and circumvent labour laws" ... yet that is exactly what NAI is trying to accomplish.

If you are an ALPA member, please sign on and participate in our "Call to Action." If you are a pilot wanting to work somewhere other than Singapore, write your Representative. Here is a letter if you are at a loss for words:

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I urge you to contact the White House in opposition to Norwegian Air International’s application to operate to the U.S. as a foreign air carrier. As you may know, DOT dismissed NAI’s exemption application to fly to the U.S. without a foreign air carrier permit. I applaud this decision and the fact that the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed an amendment to the FY 2015 Transportation Appropriations bill to prohibit DOT from approving any foreign air carrier permit that runs afoul of U.S. law and provisions of the U.S.-EU Open Skies agreement. However, we must put an end to this proposal once and for all. I respectfully ask that you contact DOT and the White House to outright Deny NAI. My job depends on it.

As you know, last December, a Norwegian airline set up a subsidiary called Norwegian Air International (NAI) in Ireland and applied for a foreign air carrier permit to fly to the U.S. It purports to be an Irish airline, yet NAI is owned and controlled by Norwegian citizens. NAI intends to operate as an Irish air carrier, even though it does not plan to operate any flights to or from Ireland. Furthermore, NAI plans to hire much of its workforce through a recruitment firm based in Singapore, which is not a party to the U.S.-EU Open Skies agreement. This new business venture is designed explicitly to lower its costs, but the real cost will be U.S. jobs.

The Open Skies agreement between the EU and the U.S., to which Norway is a party, includes a provision which specifically prohibits European airlines from moving from one country to another in order to take advantage of lower labor standards (Article 17 bis). Yet that is precisely what NAI is attempting to do.

Additionally, there are significant safety issues inherent in NAI’s new business model. This unprecedented arrangement raises critical questions regarding the Irish Aviation Authority’s ability to provide safety and regulatory oversight of NAI, including its maintenance, training, and operations. This ambiguous arrangement should be thoroughly addressed before any decision is made on NAI’s pending application.

The scheme set up by NAI threatens the U.S. airline industry’s future viability and U.S. airline jobs—including mine. I urge you to stand up for U.S. airline workers and ask the Administration to Deny NAI.

Thank you very much.