New research highlights the damaging effect of COVID-19 mitigations on UK pilots and the aviation industry (balpa.org)

A study carried out by Dr Simon Bennett, Director of Leicester University’s Civil Safety and Security Unit, with the assistance of the British Airline Pilots’ Association, has highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on UK pilots. The research, based on a survey and in-depth interviews with pilots, looked at how being furloughed affected flight […]


October 31, 2022

Travel chaos to become the norm without new aviation bodies, say global unions

Aviation unions call for formation of new national aviation bodies to oversee robust operating standards and sustainable employment practices in the industry. New polling shows only 23% of aviation workers feel respected by their employer, while 89% believe the quality of aviation jobs are declining. ‘A New Deal for Aviation’ also seeks to mandate action […]


September 9, 2022

Airlines used pandemic to erode working conditions for thousands of staff, report finds 

Major airlines used pandemic as an excuse to force workers into contracts with worse terms, new research shows.   Employers including Qantas, Ryanair and British Airways criticised for overzealous cost cutting measures despite airlines receiving USD $137bn in state aid.  Eroded working conditions have led to staffing crises and loss of employee trust, says International Transport Workers’ Federation.    […]


August 26, 2022

ITF: Urgent industry response needed to curb aviation crisis

Following today’s announcement by Gatwick airport that it will reduce its summer capacity, transport workers unions have called on the aviation industry to take urgent measures to address worker shortages.  The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) called on corporations across the aviation industry to take urgent measures to work more collaboratively with governments and unions […]


June 17, 2022

Ensuring the mental wellbeing of cabin crew: “Cabin crew should not suffer in silence”

There is increasing evidence that cabin crew are now experiencing increased stressors and mental health deterioration from the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic’s unpredictability, volatility, and patchy recovery have caused many crew to lose jobs, take reduced hours, and experience stress and anxiety over the ever-changing local and international restrictions. As well as an ever-changing work […]


January 20, 2022

Sunwing party flight shows need for stronger rules, flight attendants say (ohscanada.com)

By Christopher Reynolds MONTREAL — In the wake of a party on a Sunwing Airlines flight from Montreal to Cancun, Mexico, flight attendants are demanding stronger action from government and carriers to ensure health and safety on board amid the Omicron surge. Videos of the Dec. 30 charter flight shared on social media show unmasked […]


January 10, 2022

WHO and ILO form Action Group with global transport bodies to protect workers’ rights and ease supply chain congestion

World Health Organization and International Labour Organization agree to form an Action Group to ensure implementation of COVID-19 protocols for transport workers.  Crisis talks held as nations rush to unilaterally reinstate travel restrictions, following the emergence of the Omicron variant.  Plans are underway to institute a ‘Yellow Card’ style covid vaccine document for international transport […]


December 13, 2021

New aviation gloom is a result of neglecting poor countries in vaccine roll out

We should be looking ahead, this International Civil Aviation Day, to the challenges of economic recovery and climate change. Instead, we’re still gripped by the devastating impact that Covid-19 continues to have of aviation workers and the industry worldwide. Governments in some rich countries have put their own vaccine programmes ahead of tackling the pandemic […]


December 7, 2021