No more low-cost benefits for low-cost airline staff
(BRUSSELS) - Low-cost airlines will no longer be able to offer low-cost social welfare coverage to staff under new EU rules adopted Wednesday by the European Parliament.
Air hostesses, stewards and pilots will be subject to the social security rules of the country in which they usually start and end their work under legislation adopted with 540 votes in favour, 19 against and 30 abstentions.
The new regulation introduces the concept of a "home base" to grant aircrew members access to social security rights, the home base being where staff "normally start and end a duty period" and "where the operator is not responsible for the accommodation of the crew member."
Legal loopholes in European legislation have in the past enabled some low-cost airlines to apply the cheapest social security systems available, irrespective of the crew member's home base.
Ryanair staff based in Belgium for instance were covered by Irish benefits.
Further information, European Parliament: