### BEFORE THE 

## u.s. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON, DC

Application of NORWEGIAN AIRINTERNATIONAL LIMITED for an exemption under49 U.S.c. § 40109 and a foreign air carrierpermitpursuantto 49 U.S.c. § 41301 (US-EU Open Skies) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 

### Docket No. OST-2013-0204

ANSWER OF ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION TO APPLICATION OFNORWEGIAN AIR INTERNATIONAL LIMITED FORAN EXEMPTION AND FOREIGN AIR CARRIERPERMIT The Allied Pilots Association ("APA") urges the Department ofTransportation to reject the application ofNorwegian Air International Limited ("NAI") for an exemption and a foreign air carrierpermit. APA was a participant in the writing ofthe U.S.-European/Norway/Iceland Transport Agreement (the "US-EU ATA")! and is, thus, well-versed in its content, scope and intent. APA has reviewed NAI's minimalist application, as well as the previously-submitted Answers and Exhibits relating to NAI's planned service offerings to the United States. Based on

our review ofthe available information, APA does notbelieve that the air services proposed by NAI fall within the letter or the spirit ofthe US-EU ATA. Itis apparent that NAI seeks to establish itselfas an Irish air carrier in order to avoid the application ofNorwegian social laws. Moreover, available information indicates that NAI plans

The US-EU ATA was amended in June 2011 to apply to Norway and Iceland as ifthey were Member States ofthe European Union. 1to skirt even Ireland's wage and labor protections

- and thus offer substantially inferior terms of employment

- by utilizing sub-contracted pilots directly employed bynon-EU entities. See Declaration ofJack Nestar, Answer ofAir Line Pilots Association, Dkt. No. OST-2013-0204 (Dec. 17,2013). By undercutting labor standards, NAI'sproposed service offerings neither encourage "fair wages and working conditions," 49 U.S.C. § 40101(a)(5), nor "strengthenthe competitive position of [U.S.] air carriers to at least insure equality with foreign air carriers." 49 U.S.C. § 40101(a)(15) and (e)(I). As such, the foreign air transportation NAI seeks to provide under the requested permit would not be "inthe public interest," as required under 49 U.S.C. § 41302. NAI's application for an exemption and a foreign air carrier permit should, therefore, be denied.

December 20,2013

2 Ed rN me JAMES & H FFMAN, P.C. 1130 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 950 Washington, D.C. 20036-3975 (telephone) 202-496-0500 (facsimile) 202-496-0555 ejarnes@jamhoff.com Attorney for theAlliedPilotsAssociationCERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that I have, onthis 20th day ofDecember, 2013, served the foregoing Answer by causing a copy to be sent by electronic mail to the addresses identified below:

Josh Romanow PeterNelson Counsel for Norwegian Air International Limited romanow@pillsburylaw.com peter.nelson@pillsburylaw.com Steve Morrissey Thomas Bolling United Airlines steve.morrissey@united.com thomas.bolling@united.com Dan Weiss Continental Airlines dan.weiss@united.com Sascha Van der Bellen Delta Airlines sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com Howard Kass U.S. Airways howard.kass@usairways.com Robert Wirick Francis Heil American Airlines, Inc. robert.wirick@aa.com francis.heil@aa.com Russell E. Pommer Associate General Counsel & Sr. Director Regulatory Affairs Atlas Air Inc. rpommer@atlasair.com

3 Celine Canu European Cockpit Association cc@eurocockpit.be Malcom L. Benge Counsel for North American/World Airways Zuckert Scoutt & Rasenberger, L.L.P. mlbenge@zsrlaw.com Jesse Elliot Douglas Schwab Nicholas Tsokris FAANew York IFU jesse.elliot@faa.gov douglas.schwab@faa.gov nicholas.tsokris@faa.gov John M. Allen Director, Flight Standards Federal Aviation Administration john.allen@faa.gov AnitaMosner Jennifer Nowak Counsel for UPS Holland & Knight anita.mosner@hklaw.com jennifer.nowak@hklaw.com Nancy S. Sparks Bailey Leopard Federal Express Corporation nssparks@fedex.com gbleopard@fedex.comRussell Bailey Jonathan Cohen Air Line Pilots Association, International russell.bailey@alpa.org jonathan.cohen@alpa.org Edward Wytkind President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO edw@ttd.org

The following were served via Fist Class Mail: Kent G. George Director ofAviation Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Broward County Aviation Department 2200 Southwest 45th Street Dania Beach, FL 33312 Paul Gretch, Director Office ofInternational Aviation U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590 Robert Finamore, Chief Office ofInternational Aviation U.S. Department ofTransportation 1200 NewJersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590

4 David Berg James Casey Keith Glatz Airlines for America dberg@airlines.org jcasey@airlines.org kglatz@airlines.org Krishna Urs Department ofState urskr@state.gov