European Pilot Union Pushes Regulators to Address Airline Staffing Loophole

European pilot group seeks stronger labor protections

The European Cockpit Association (ECA) plans to urge European regulators to address what it describes as a gap in labor oversight that allows some airlines to employ pilots and cabin crew through external staffing agencies instead of hiring them directly.

The issue is particularly relevant in the ACMI, or wet-leasing, market, where airlines provide aircraft along with crew, maintenance, and insurance services to other carriers.

According to the ECA, workers hired through outsourcing arrangements may face fewer employment protections and greater job insecurity than directly employed airline staff.

The union pointed to the collapse of Latvia-based SmartLynx Airlines in late 2025 as an example of the risks associated with the model. The shutdown left hundreds of pilots and cabin crew without work, while some workers reported difficulties receiving their final pay.

Former employees told Reuters that they were directed to seek employment through third-party staffing companies rather than being hired directly by the airline.

SmartLynx had been a major provider of wet-lease services in Europe, supplying aircraft and crews to airlines including SAS, IndiGo, and TUI Airways. The company operated a fleet of 68 aircraft in 2024.

The airline's parent company, Avia Solutions Group, sold SmartLynx in October 2025 to a Netherlands-based investment fund and two company executives. At the time, the carrier reportedly carried significant debt and ceased operations the following month along with subsidiaries in Malta and Estonia.

Reuters reviewed employment contracts that included provisions allowing immediate termination, salary adjustments, and limited employer obligations. One contract specified that disputes would be handled through English courts.

A 2025 study conducted by the University of Ghent found that nearly 14% of more than 4,000 surveyed pilots were not directly employed by airlines. Among those workers, most were employed by ACMI operators. The study also linked outsourced employment arrangements to higher job insecurity, poorer mental well-being, and increased reluctance to report fatigue-related concerns.

The ECA argues that the issue extends beyond a single airline and raises broader questions about accountability and employment standards across the European aviation sector.