Norwegian air mulls Irish registries to cut costs (wants to hire cheaper Asian workers)
Norwegian air mulls Irish registries to cut costs
Budget airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said on Thursday that it is considering registering future long-haul aircraft in Ireland to circumvent Norwegian laws which bar the carrier from hiring cheaper Asian cabin crews.
Europe's third largest low-cost carrier has sent a letter to Norway's Civil Aviation Authority asking it to authorize "renting an aircraft that in all likelihood will be registered in the Irish Aircraft Registration Department".
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The new aircraft would operate on Norwegian's recently announced routes to Thailand and the United States.
To ensure competitive fares on the new routes, the company wants to hire staff in Asia for a fraction of the cost it is now paying in Scandinavia, but earlier this year Norwegian authorities ruled out making any changes to the existing framework.
The airline has responded by brandishing the possibility of registering eight future Boeing 787 Dreamliners abroad, adding to union allegations that it is practicing social dumping.
http://www.thelocal.no/page/view/norwegian-airline-mulls-irish-registries-to-cut-costs#.UXlNmkr4KSo
