UK RULES for granting work permits to non-European Economic Area pilots have been thrown into confusion by a Government decision to approve an application by UK charter airline Airworld to hire Canadian Airbus A320 pilots.
The approval comes only weeks after the Government rejected a similar controversial request from British Airways to temporarily base USAir pilots at London Gatwick (Flight International, 17-23 January, P7).
The UK Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) granted work permits for the Airworld pilots on 3 April, but refuses to comment on the reasons behind the decision, claiming that it is "confidential". Airworld also declines to comment.
The DfEE is believed to have accepted Airworld claims that there were insufficient UK-rated A320 pilots available. This is an argument that the UK pilot unions strongly reject.
Source: Flight International
