The asset manager 'Attestor' saved the holiday airline Condor from being bankrupt , after a take over 18 months ago, with 51 percent of the shares. Now , According to the announcement , Attestor is interested in its own airline, "Marabu".
The new airline will take off with six Airbus A320s and operate flights from Hamburg and Munich to the destinations around the Mediterranean. But , the Airline will have the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from Estonia.
This exact reason has drawn the attention of German Union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) and they are critical about it , and released a statement as ,
Attestor, owner of the traditional German airline Condor, today announced the establishment of a flight operations (AOC) in Estonia. The new company will serve routes from Hamburg and Munich with six Airbus A320 aircraft.
The new airline is to be led by former Condor sales chief and ex-Sun Express CEO Paul Schwaiger. As General Sales Agent, Condor exclusively handles the distribution of Marabu flights. The first connections should be bookable via flymarabu.com from 14 December.
Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) believes , the plan to operate the new airline with an Estonian AOC will undermine the effectivity on collective bargaining and working conditions ,
VC President Stefan Herth comments critically on this development :
"If the same owner serves the same routes with the same aircraft and uses Condor sales, many questions are raised."
"Even if the AOC foundation by the Condor owner is covered by the entrepreneurial freedom, we have to conclude that such constructions are suitable for exerting pressure on collective bargaining and working conditions."
At present , Marabu does not initially operate as a registered airline , the Estonian Nordica flies as an ACMI partner and thus guarantees the rapid start of the flight operations.
However , the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) fears an infiltration of social standards at Condor by the Attestor refoundation.
Vereinigung Cockpit's release read ,
As a rule, the purpose of such an enterprise is to undermine working conditions and social standards. It is precisely the choice of the place of registration Estonia that is a cause for concern. In recent years, Estonia has developed into a kind of "Panama of aviation".
As a trade union, we criticise such an approach. We will monitor developments closely. It must not happen that working conditions are undermined by in-house competition."
From the point of view of the Vereinigung Cockpit, this is further proof of the need for reform of the regulations of the European labour market. The free movement of services and workers is increasingly being misused as instruments for undermining national social standards.
Meanwhile, Condor's website acknowledges the plan of sister airline Marabu and says ,
Take off with our partner airline. Take off with Marabu from Hamburg and Munich airports to the most beautiful holiday destinations around the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Canary Islands and in Portugal.
If you have any questions about your Marabu flight booked through Condor, or if would like to book special services (such as a seat reservation or sports equipment), please use the following contact option:
E-Mail: service@marabu.ee
Picture Courtesy : Attestor / Condor .
