LO sounds crisis alarm for Norwegian aviation

OSLO, NOV 10 - LO (Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions) does not believe the government is doing enough for Norwegian aviation and calls for a more comprehensive plan. The Norwegian Pilots’ Association believes that aviation is about to collapse.

“The government said no to joining the issue with SAS. It has said no to contributing equity in Norwegian. 

“More debt is not what aviation needs now. What the government is doing is not enough, nor does it seem as if it has a plan for aviation in the future,” deputy leader Peggy Hessen Følsvik of LO said in a press release.

Air traffic is down about 70% this year compared to last year, and LO fears that aviation may be affected by the corona crisis until 2023.

“We have requested that there be more measures for aviation than expensive loan schemes. 

It is positive that the tax level has become lower and that the state buys FOT routes, but it doesn’t work when aviation is in such a deep crisis,” Følsvik said.

New measures

On Monday Nov 9, the government announced new measures for aviation. 

Among other things, it proposed to allocate a significant amount for the purchase of a minimum offer on domestic flights. 

The government will also extend the aviation loan guarantee scheme.

“It does not seem as if the government has taken into account that a minimum offer will hit most people, business, and the districts very hard. 

“The government’s main objective must be to ensure critical national infrastructure, and that there will be aviation in Norway after the crisis,” Yngve Carlsen, leader of the Norwegian Pilots’ Association, said. 

Carlsen believes that Norwegian aviation is now about to collapse.

COURTESY NORWAY TODAY!

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