Southwest and NetJets Pilots Urge President-elect Trump to Reverse NAI Foreign Carrier Permit

The Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) is partnering with the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) to urge President-elect Trump to reverse the decision to grant Norwegian Air International a foreign carrier permit.

The two groups will meet in the nation’s capital for a Rally for U.S. Aviation Jobs on January 24.

In the final days of his administration, President Obama granted Norwegian Air International (NAI) a foreign carrier permit, placing tens of thousands of U.S. jobs at risk.

“This decision is just another failed trade deal by the Obama administration, giving foreign companies an unfair advantage over U.S. companies,” said Captain Jon Weaks, SWAPA President.

“Only President-elect Trump has the power to reverse the lame duck Obama Administration’s reckless approval of NAI before it takes effect on January 29.”

The late-December decision to grant NAI a foreign carrier permit paves the way for NAI to execute on its flag of convenience (FOC) scheme. This permit allows for Norwegian to establish an Irish subsidiary in order to take advantage of Ireland’s impotent labor, tax, and social laws. This is exactly the type of scheme that decimated the U.S. shipping industry and will be the catalyst for a race to the bottom in the U.S. airline industry.

Government affairs representatives from SWAPA and NJASAP continue to work every possible avenue to garner the attention of the president-elect and right this wrong. With the January 29 deadline looming, the groups believe that time is of the essence, and the time for action is now.

“The Obama administration has tilted the field of play in favor of a foreign competitor and put thousands of good-paying, middle-class, U.S. aviation jobs at risk. It will be up to the Trump administration to save them,” said SWAPA Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Chip Hancock.

Added Weaks:

“President-elect Trump was elected on a pro-American worker platform and has already delivered wins for several American companies. It is our sincere desire that the president-elect will right this wrong by repealing this detrimental ruling.”

Located in Dallas, Texas, the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) is a non-profit employee organization representing the more than 8,500 pilots of Southwest Airlines. SWAPA works to provide a secure and rewarding career for Southwest pilots and their families through negotiating contracts, defending contractual rights and actively promoting professionalism and safety.

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