August 26, 2014

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx

Secretary

Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: Norwegian Air International – Docket No. OST-2013-0204

Dear Secretary Foxx:

As pilots working for Norwegian Air International and its affiliates, we are writing in support of 

Norwegian Air International’s (NAI) exemption and foreign air carrier permit applications currently 

pending before the U.S. Department of Transportation. We urge the Department to grant NAI’s 

applications without further delay to allow us to bring this exciting new service to U.S. markets.

As pilots for Norwegian, we can assure you that the allegations made by pilots unions and others 

calling into question Norwegian’s labor practices and safety records have no basis in fact or reality. 

First, our salaries are competitive with our peers around the globe. As you know, operating a 787 

Dreamliner requires thousands of hours of pilot experience, and our experience is very much in 

demand around the world. This competitive advantage for pilots redounds no matter where we are 

based. Indeed, pilots based in Asia and Europe with our levels of experience, often make far 

more than their unionized pilots in the U.S.

Second, our working conditions are good. We have the flexibility to fly schedules convenient to us. 

We enjoy competitive working conditions wherever we are based, which are subject to local 

employment laws and labor standards. Indeed, in the U.S. our pilots have the right to unionize just 

like pilots in other bases across the world, subject to local and country laws in effect.

Third, we are fully licensed and qualified pilots. NAI’s pilots are subject to the oversight and 

licensing requirements of Ireland – one of the most robust aviation safety oversight organizations in 

the world. The company fully complies with European safety standards (EASA) and all its crews 

are trained according to EU standards and the company’s own additional training programs. We 

have well-trained and experienced pilots on long-haul with several thousand flight hours from major 

airlines all over the world.

Fourth, to suggest that any of us would compromise safety simply because of our employment 

arrangements and risk our lives or those of our passengers, or risk our licenses offends us 

personally and professionally. Not to mention that to suggest a lesser level of safety based on our 

particular employment arrangement would fly in the face of establish norms under the Chicago 

Convention and the U.S-EU Open Skies Agreement. This criticism does not only hit the company, 

but also all of us, who every day have our passengers’ and co-workers’ safety as our main priority. 

We, pilots hired by Norwegian, would strongly urge DOT to renounce the misleading information 

about our operations and the false claims about our safety standards.

We are among a growing cadre of pilots (including Americans) working for Norwegian and are 

anxiously awaiting the launch of NAI’s transatlantic service. Our work environment is positive, 

cooperative and energetic. We appreciate the opportunity to work in the state-of-the-art Boeing 

787 aircraft with its many outstanding features, making the overall flying experience extremely 

pleasant for both customers and crew. 

We urge the U.S. Department of Transportation to swiftly approve NAI’s exemption and foreign air 

carrier permit applications. Let us continue to fly – in accordance with the Open Skies regime. 

Sincerely,

Name

Rene Clausen

Relief Captain Boeing 787-800

Total time in excess of 15300 hours

TRE/TRI B 737

 RC