The US DOT has linked the Norwegian UK permit application to the “Ireland based” NAI application. The permits affect the long haul ambition of Kjos. Most recently the EU has appointed Giorgio Sacerdoti as its arbitrator in the ongoing NAI matter:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/irelan...ck-431867.html
“Under arbitration, the EU and US will each name an arbitrator, while a third arbitrator will be appointed by mutual consent”
A new DOT Secretary has yet to be appointed:
http://ttnews.com/articles/basetempl...-DOT-Secretary
Those supporting NAI appear worried the new administration of President elect Trump may decide to review the NAI application. Ireland South MEP, Deirdre Clune, has written to DOT Secretary Foxx asking that he “swiftly conclude this matter within the time frame of the current US political administration”:
http://www.irishcentral.com/business...-by-arbitrator
It may not have been prudent for EU Transport Commissioner, Violeta Bulc, to notify the DOT that not granting NAI a US permit could affect trade agreements. Given the rhetoric of President elect Trump, Bulc’s communication is likely to hinder rather than assist the NAI and NA UK applications.
The Irish Times published a letter from the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association President, Captain Evan Cullen, regarding Norwegian’s Irish venture, in which he states, “The objection is purely on the undermining of EU-US labor standards that the Norwegian proposal represents”:
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/le...plan-1.2749410
In an interview with Kjos, Norway’s VG newspaper reported that; ”Norwegian boss is crystal clear that he is not at all interested in negotiating the pilots demands for connection to the parent NAS - This will eliminate our ability to finance the 240 planes. With such a model we would not have gotten the funding of the banks to operate”:
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/k...lt/a/23408996/
Article 17 of the EU-US Air Transport Agreement (Open Skies) does not permit an undermining of labor standards, labor rights and labor principles by the participating parties. This may include using novel and complex labor models to circumvent direct employment relationships. Particularly if doing so would provide an unfair competitive advantage over those participating parties fully complying with the Agreement.