Passenger safety must come before profit - Bisky on air travel disruption
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Welcoming the decision by European aviation security authorities not to put passenger's safety at risk, GUE/NGL President Lothar Bisky added today in the European Parliament debate on the ongoing disruption of air traffic in Europe that it was "irresponsible for airlines to allow pilots to fly 'at their own risk'". Competition and profit seeking must not take precedence over the security of passengers, he said.
With European airlines facing crisis as the costs of the Icelandic volcano eruption continue to rise, Bisky said it was positive that the European Commission would help struggling companies recover from this financial disaster. "However" he cautioned, "negative consequences should not be offloaded onto airline employees."
"If public money is offered to airlines, they must commit to maintaining jobs and salaries for their workers."
Strasbourg, 20 April 2010
GUE / NGL PRESS:
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