Social clauses in air services agreements: is labour protection saving fair competition?

Abstract

In the comprehensive European Union-level air services agreements with Qatar, Ukraine and ASEAN, lawyers and policymakers can find social clauses addressing labour and employment in the aviation sector. While ambiguity remains as to interpretation and regulation of these types of social clauses in air service agreements, relevant State practices can help supplement international labour standards and may result in less regulatory discrepancies between the European Union Member States and other jurisdictions.