Press release from the Belgian pilots union that represents TNT pilots. Although the merger ship has likely sailed, it is
to see what they think of the inter-European ops of FedEx and UPS.


Press Release
FedEx-TNT Merge:
FedEx's Questionable Operations Threatens Employment in Europe
Six months after FedEx's announcement of its attempt to take over the TNT Express group, the future of the Belgian airline, TNT Airways, and of its 500 employees - including 270 pilots - remains unsettled. BeCA, supported by its European structure (ECA), calls the European Commission to analyse the US airline's current operations in Europe, which breach the European social legislation, violate EU-US free trade agreements ('Open Skies') and threatens employment in Europe.
Should this merge be approved, it would be a new violation of EU-US 'Open Skies' agreements. Indeed, although these agreements allow flights between Europe and the US, they prohibit cargo transportation by American planes and crews within European borders (apart from a few exceptions). BeCA/ECA already denounced a few years ago UPS & FedEx's practices in this respect. However, the European Commission has never reacted, allowing de facto these two US airlines to deliver intra-European cargo services, whilst the opposite is strictly prohibited.
Besides, since 2011, Germany authorises FedEx to base its pilots on their Cologne hub, for 5 years maximum. Nevertheless, BeCA discovered recently that these pilots mainly operate from Charles-de-Gaulle airport, in Paris. According to the new European legislation, FedEx must pay social contributions in France and not in Germany, which is apparently not the case.
Finally, FedEx's pilots signed an agreement with their management to operate all airplanes with a takeoff weight above 30 tons. Given that TNT Airways only operates airplanes with a higher weight, this provision could restrain its ambition to freely operate for the group, as an independent airline, leading to more American pilots flying in Europe. For BeCA/ECA, it is unacceptable that a social agreement between US pilots and their management has such impacts on European employment.
For all these reasons, BeCA and ECA calls the European Commission to carefully examine these three issues before taking its final decision on the merge, in order to preserve European employment and cargo and guarantee enforcement of free trade agreements and social legislation. Both associations will organise a joint press conference on 26 October, at 11 AM, in BeCA headquarters – Avenue du Renouveau 25/43, 1140 Brussels.
Brussels, 21 October 2015