Kabul flights

[LTF]

“ Two bombs in Kabul and some of the worst ever violence there for years “ ....and you still want to operate there , unprotected and uninsured .... ?

[my salami]

“ Two bombs in Kabul and some of the worst ever violence there for years “ ....and you still want to operate there , unprotected and uninsured .... ?

Did the bombs go off at the Airport or in the city?
WRT Uninsured, EK self funds its own insurance so no big deal..
Unprotected? Well maybe, but I can’t imagine a safer and more guarded place than the airport...

MS

[aeropix]

Reminds me of some colleagues concerned about flying to Tel Aviv during the 2nd Gulf war. They complained to the airline and the Union about flying to a "war Zone" and the possibility that their Life / Health Insurance cover would be voided if anything should happen on the layover. The airline responded that the pilots "should not worry as "the Company has plenty of insurance cover for the aircraft..." As if that was the pressing issue! So EK is not alone in setting these priorities...

[G SXTY]

At little brother across the runway, they simply make you sign an employment contract accepting you will fly to war zones.

Problem solved. :D

[parabellum]

Whether an airline 'self-insures' its Personal Accident and Life liabilities or not an employee should make absolutely certain that they are fully aware of the extent or otherwise of the cover pertaining to them, including War Risk. If not already issued, as a part of the joining process, then an employee should be able to obtain, from their company's insurance department, full details of all benefits payable in the event of accident, disablement or accidental death and specifically any clauses that relate to operating in areas of known hostility. The main insurance market in London are the most reliable arbiters of what constitutes 'known hostility', rather than a company that chooses to self insure.

[aeropix]

that they are fully aware of the extent or otherwise of the cover ..., then an employee should be able to obtain, from their company's insurance department, full details of all benefits ... and specifically any clauses that relate to operating in areas of known hostility.

I'm guessing that you either don't work for EK or are in Management. For if you worked here you would know that everything about EK is completely opaque and hidden from the view of the employees. For example there is something called the "Pay and Allowance Manual" which is NOT published and is only available by personal visit to the Fleet office, there's also no published list of rules regarding rostering and swapping, and even if you asked you are told ro "discover the rules by trial and error through the bidding process".

The company loves opacity so that the conditions and terms can be "enhanced" frequently. Given this culture there is no way that you would ever be able to get a straight and comprehensive answer to the above and even if you did you would find that it would be riddled with loopholes and weasel-words such as "this can be unilaterally amended under "extreme circumstances" just like all of the other manuals that we abide by.

[EladElap]

I see with all the unrest in Basra, rockets were fired at the airport yesterday. Interesting that QR cancelled both their daily flights yesterday and today, yet EK cracks on...

Having lived and flown from Kabul for four years, and having lived and flown in Iraq for a number of years too, I can tell you right now Basra used to scare the s%$£ out of me far more than anywhere in Afghanistan.

Keep your heads down chaps...

[SOPS]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/08/chaos-basra-rockets-fired-airport-iranian-consulate-torched/

[parabellum]

aeropix - Not EK, ever, (but another well known Gulf Airline for eight years, many moons ago), not management either.

I understand what you say about those areas you mention that are totally opaque but matters concerning remuneration and insurance cover should not fall into that category. Are all matters concerning pay, allowances and insurance really so opaque in EK? These three form a major part of the basic contracted remuneration and I would expect to see all insurance matters available in written form. Has anyone asked for a copy of the insurance element of the contract? If the answer is that it will be dealt with on a case by case basis then you don't have a viable contract. I am well aware of and have experienced the vagaries of a Middle Eastern employment contract in relation to rostering etc. but matter relating directly to money have usually been spelled out fairly clearly, somewhere.