Ireland as a flag of convenience
I hope this question has not yet been raised. If it has, please point me to the reply.
How is it possible for Ireland, a member of the European Union (EU) to have granted an Irish Operating Certificate (OC) to Norwegian Air International, a company owned by a non European Union member, which company has openly admitted that this OC was specifically sought out for the purpose of gaining access to the market available to airlines that are members of the EU? This airline has admitted it has no intention of either basing or even operating aircraft in Ireland and is using the Irish registry as a mere flag of convenience.
If Norwegian, as an airlines of a non EU member can be granted an Irish OC for this purpose, what will prevent other non EU airlines from doing the same in order to gain a foothold in the EU aviation market ? Imagine Irish registered Ethiad and Emirates 777s and 380s based inLondon, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam.
In Canada and the USA, OC holders must have over 50% of shareholders owned by locals in order to qualify for an OC. Do EU members not have similar laws ?
Don't other EU member countries have a say in what Ireland does in this regard for this Irish OC does open the back door to all EU countries ?
I noticed there was ample reaction in the USA with regards to Norwegian using the Irish registry as a Flag of Convenience but I didn't read of similar opposition from other European countries. Where Ireland gives Norwegian an Irish OC which Norwegian uses to exploit London - North America routes, it allows Norwegian as a non EU member to compete on the London market with other airlines already established in that market. What right does Ireland have to hand a market such as London's market to a non EU airline ? Why are other European countries so silent on the matter when they are the ones who should be up in arms before the Americans ?
I know there are other issues with Norwegian that need to be discussed but please limit this thread to the Flag of Convenience issue. Thank you.
Last edited by Gilles Hudicourt; 14th Feb 2015 at 17:09.