Arbitral tribunal requires pilots to ensure flights to 12 destinations – publico

                 

                         
                     

                 

 
                         

The tribunal of the Economic and Social Council (ESC) has already taken a decision on the minimum services to ensure during the strike by pilots of TAP, decreeing as required to carry out flights to 12 destinations.

                     

                         According to the decision released on Monday, are ensured all connections to the Azores, as well as three flights (round trip) to Madeira for each day of strike. The tribunal also decided to protect this stoppage a number of important destinations for TAP, because they have a strong Portuguese community.

The list contained in the judgment, which always includes round trip stands out Mozambique, with three frequencies per day guaranteed, and Brazil, with two. In cases of Angola, France, Luxembourg, UK, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Italy, the tribunal decided that the realization of a daily flight will be mandatory.

In addition to these minimum services, it was decided yet as usual, will have to be ensured all flights returning from international airports as well as all connections required by critical situations in which it is to the safety of persons and property. Also all military flights and State are required.

From the moment it is known the decision of the arbitral tribunal, it is for the TAP redefine the operation for the days of the strike, which is convened for the period between 1 and 10 May. In other words, the company must now clarify that specific flights will perform.

The airline estimated carry around 350,000 passengers these days, but many already have been transferring the travel alternative dates or cancel the flight, in exchange for a voucher. When reschedule the operation, and given that this will force the cancellation of frequencies, is likely to open the possibility of reimbursing customers.

The decision of the ESC was very fast, since the first meeting to define minimum services yet occurred early on Monday. In its judgment, the tribunal justified the minimum services decreed with the “very long duration of the strike” and the fact that “from May to check the air transport demand growth.” In addition, the judgment underlying the decision in “agglomeration of candidates for passengers” at airports, understanding that this could “lead to safety issues.”

As for the Azores and Madeira, weighed the fact that “air transport is the only way to [residents] break the isolation in which they are forced to live.” But the Azorean case was analyzed with particular concern, since “place during the strike period the Feasts of the Lord Holy Christ.” Hence they have been assured all flights to the region.

Already on Angola and Mozambique, the arbitral tribunal held that “the reduction of possibilities to travel to Portugal can lead to significant problems in the areas of health and safety, the Portuguese that are working in these two countries.

For other destinations, the decision was based on the fact that they have “enormous communities of migrants and displaced Portuguese citizens, for which it is necessary to ensure a minimum service connection to Portugal. “