Zika virus advice for air crew published

The ITF has produced advice to help air crews avoid contracting the Zika virus. The fact sheet can be downloaded here. Most media attention has been on the prevalence of the virus in the Americas, but it is also circulating in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. It can be spread by the bite of an […]


March 4, 2016

TWU protests employee abuses at Qatar Airways as flights to Sydney begin (twu.com.au)

The Transport Workers’ Union has held a protest at Sydney airport over Qatar Airways’ abuse of employees as the airline began its first flights to Sydney. Activists leafleted the public with information on Qatar Airway’s treatment of its employees, including sacking workers for minor offences and keeping them under constant surveillance. The first flights are […]


March 3, 2016

An hour with ‘His Excellency’, the controversial Qatar Airways CEO (smh.com.au)

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker knows how to make an entrance. Arriving 30 minutes late to a press conference celebrating the launch of the carrier’s first services between Doha and Sydney on Thursday, he is introduced to the waiting media crowd as “His Excellency”. “I know that my airline is always creating a […]


TWU demands government stamp out employee abuses as first Qatar flights to Sydney begin (twu.com.au)

The Transport Workers’ Union is demanding that the Government ensures all airlines operating in Australia abide by labour and human rights standards as the first Qatar Airways flights to Sydney begin. The call comes as aviation employees and union activists at Sydney airport leafleted the public with information on Qatar Airway’s treatment of its employees, […]


March 1, 2016

America’s airlines are introducing a class below economy (economist.com)

As the candidates in America’s presidential race pontificate on the growing divide between the haves and the have-nots, the country’s airlines are busy segmenting customers between the haves, the have-lesses, the have-somewhats, the have-nots and, now, the have-nothing-at-alls. Airlines have long seen profitability in investing heavily in first- and business-class while degrading the flying experience […]


February 26, 2016

New ICAO guidelines a ‘big achievement’ for ITF

After years of campaigning for safe cabin air quality, the ITF has welcomed the new International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Guidelines on education, training and reporting of fume events. The ITF had long warned of the health risks of cabin air extracted from engine compression and conveyed unfiltered to passengers and crew, and was concerned […]


February 24, 2016

Chile union delivers food to airport workers in LATAM protest

A trade union has delivered snacks to LAN workers on shift at Santiago airport, Chile, to draw public attention to the way the company treats its aviation workers there. The Union of Airport Workers (Sindilanex) said LAN (part of the LATAM group of airlines) workers at the airport have to spend up to six hours […]


February 19, 2016

Unions set strategies for emerging air traffic control technologies

The ITF’s air traffic services (ATS) affiliates from 20 countries have agreed to develop a global strategy to stop any negative impact on flight safety and aviation workers’ conditions posed by the growing use of remote air traffic control towers far from airports. Sixty-five delegates gathered on 5 and 6 February for a lively two-day […]


February 11, 2016