The world’s first bloc-to-bloc Air Transport Agreement enshrines a labour clause

At a virtual summit on 2 June 2021, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) have concluded negotiations on a bloc-to-bloc bilateral air transport agreement entitled, “the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (AE CATA)” that will allow for unlimited flying between the two regions. According to the AE CATA, airlines […]


June 24, 2021

Securing jobs for a successful recovery in civil aviation

The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike any other external shock encountered by the global aviation industry. Border restrictions and quarantine measures have devastated the aviation industry. Planes have been grounded. Tens of thousands of jobs have been lost. Aircraft manufacturing is idle. A new deal is needed for the aviation industry that must focus on Relief, […]


November 10, 2020

Airlines and air transport workers call for urgent government assistance to prevent jobs catastrophe

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) issued a joint statement calling for urgent government intervention to prevent an employment catastrophe in the aviation industry. Estimates from the Air Transport Action Group suggest some 4.8 million aviation workers’ jobs are at risk as a result of air travel demand […]


Catastrophic jobs crisis on horizon without government intervention

Joint IATA/ITF statement on financial support and testing to restart global aviation Seven months since the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a global pandemic, aviation continues to be one of the worst hit business sectors from this crisis. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that the industry will not recover to 2019 levels until […]


ITF Executive Board statement to members

The ITF reaffirms the critical role transport workers continue to play in keeping the world moving through the Covid-19 pandemic, and our solidarity with our members who continue to do their unions, families and communities proud. At a time of unprecedented crisis, we stop to remember and honour those who have lost their lives in […]


November 5, 2020

What’s the holdup for airline relief? ‘It’s mind-boggling,’ union leader says (forbes.com)

By Ted Reed Leaders of the biggest airline union on Thursday [17 September 2020] urged Congress to approve continued financial support for airline workers so that tens of thousands don’t their jobs on Oct. 1 and their health care within months. A second Payroll Support Program requested by the industry would provide $25 billion for […]


September 23, 2020

1,465 jobs saved through tripartite social dialogue at Air Italy

On 3 September 2020, after a 12-hour long meeting between trade unions, Air Italy management, the Lombardy and Sardinia Regions and the heads of the ministries of Labour, Economic Development and Transport, the parties agreed on a scheme that would save 1,465 jobs at Air Italy. Almost seven months after Air Italy went into liquidation […]


September 9, 2020

Governments, employers and unions must act together to save aviation (internationalairportreview.com)

Gabriel Mocho Rodriguez, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)’s Civil Aviation Secretary, emphasises how the world needs governments and employers to step up to the challenge of protecting jobs, livelihoods and international transport. In the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic, the aviation sector is fighting for its survival. Flight capacity has already fallen by over […]


June 2, 2020