european Air Safety Under Strain Due to Cost-Cutting and Staff Pressures, Study Finds
Gent, Belgium - A new study from the University of Ghent reveals growing concerns about the state of safety within the European air transport sector. The research, involving responses from 6,900 airline employees, points to a decline in safety standards driven by airline cost-cutting measures and increasing pressure on flight crews.
The study highlights a significant shift in working conditions as the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the departure of experienced pilots replaced by newer, frequently enough cheaper, labor. This, coupled with the growing dominance of low-cost carriers, has led to increased demands for longer shifts and reduced rest periods, raising the risk of operational errors.
A key finding is a decrease in pilots’ perceived ability to refuse unsafe flights. While 82% of pilots felt pleasant doing so in 2012, that figure has dropped to just over 50% today. Approximately 30% of respondents expressed fear of negative career repercussions for raising safety concerns.
The research also indicates a troubling trend of prioritizing sales over safety. Employees reported being pressured to engage in onboard sales – even during periods of turbulence - with one crew member recalling being reprimanded with the instruction, “You’re here to sell!” Researchers Yves Jorens and Lien Valcke note this shift obscures the primary safety role of flight crews, contributing to mental stress and legal ambiguity.
The study paints a picture of declining employee well-being, with 68% reporting poor mental health and nearly 80% describing their work as “dehumanizing.” this is particularly pronounced in Eastern European countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, where short-term contracts, agency work, and precarious employment models are prevalent.
Participants likened the current state of European air safety to a block of Emmental cheese - riddled with holes, where each cost-saving measure weakens another layer of protection.
Professor Jorens emphasized the critical link between employment stability and safety, stating, “Today, working conditions directly affect the safety, well-being and exhaustion of employees. Without fair and stable employment,a safe and durable air sector in Europe cannot be maintained.”
