The new ALAS ‘single sky’ in South America could erode hard-won safety standards and grossly undermine fair competition, warn aviation unions, as plans exclude key considerations for regulatory harmonisation.
The proposed South American Air Liberalisation Agreement (ALAS) is endorsed by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
In a joint position across the affected countries, unions are demanding a seat at the table to be part of moves that could see a seismic shift in the aviation industry on the continent.
If ALAS is completed, it will mark a fundamental shift for the industry and the workers who operate it, leaving loopholes that could put safety standards at risk, incentivise weak regulatory environments, and trigger a race to the bottom for employment standards, fatigue protections and taxation jurisdictions.
"Aviation workers understand better than anyone how this industry functions – liberalisation cannot move forward without addressing fundamental questions around safety oversight, taxation, fair competition and labour protections. This announcement is hasty and has many loopholes – creating more risks and leaving more questions than it answers,” said Rodrigo Maciel, ITF Civil Aviation Regional Chair for Latin America.
Excluding workers from these discussions would mean excluding the expertise the sector most needs. The announcements talk about replicating the European single sky but exclude the important role that trade unions play in shaping it."
ALAS’ introduction of a single sky will strip countries of ‘cabotage’ rights, also known as the ‘9th freedom’ – the right of a foreign-registered aircraft or airline to transport passengers, mail or cargo between two points located within the same national territory.
While the initiative is being promoted as a means to increase connectivity and stimulate growth across the region, it has been advanced without addressing fundamental issues related to labour standards, safety, fair competition, taxation and regulatory oversight. This creates significant risks for the region's aviation sector, its workers and passengers.
To ensure that any future aviation integration delivers sustainable benefits for passengers, workers, airlines and national economies, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and its affiliated civil aviation unions in South America are demanding that:
1. Workers must have a seat at the table
Trade unions and aviation workers must be formally included in all discussions and decision-making processes related to air transport liberalisation. Policies that reshape the future of the sector cannot be developed without the participation of the workforce that understands its operational realities.
2. A comprehensive review of supporting institutions
Governments must conduct a thorough assessment of the regulatory, safety, fiscal, labour and institutional frameworks that would support any single-sky or open-skies mechanism. Liberalisation must be contingent on the necessary safeguards to guarantee fair competition, effective oversight, robust safety standards and adequate labour protections.
3. A permanent tripartite regional body
A permanent tripartite mechanism bringing together governments, employers and trade unions should be established as an integral component of any regional aviation framework. Such a body would provide continuous oversight, facilitate social dialogue and ensure that safety, labour standards and sustainable sectoral development remain central throughout the transition process.
“Aviation workers possess unparalleled operational expertise and firsthand knowledge of the industry's regulatory, technical and commercial realities: their experience is indispensable to evaluating the risks and consequences of any aviation liberalisation framework. They must be recognised as important stakeholders in this process and included in the negotiations on it.” said Bilal Malkawi, ITF Director for Civil Aviation and Tourism Services.
"If governments wish to pursue regional aviation integration, they must first establish the institutional safeguards necessary to support it – and that means a comprehensive review of the regulatory framework and the creation of a permanent tripartite body where governments, employers and workers can address the challenges of implementation together. This is essential for the success of this project and to ensure that it benefits the economy, the industry and the people- both workers and passengers. "
The ITF and its affiliated unions demand that the future of South American aviation must be built on strong institutions, fair competition, high safety standards and meaningful social dialogue. Advancing liberalisation without these foundations will weaken the entire sector.
