11/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - Cabin crews organise against competition from Gulf countries. On Tuesday 10 May, the European Cabin Crews Association (ECCA), which represents around 35,000 cabin crew members (hostesses and stewards), announced that it would join the Europeans for Fair Competition (E4FC) coalition. E4FC is particularly engaged in fighting against the dumping practices of Gulf state airlines such as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways. The latter have frequently been accused by the European aviation sector and some members of the European political class for their lack of transparency on financing models, and they are suspected of receiving massive amounts of support in state aid. The challenge is a major one and will constitute one of the pillars of the European Commission's negotiating mandate to obtain a comprehensive agreement with these countries (see EUROPE 11447). The mandate appears to cause both with the member states (see EUROPE 11450) and MEPs (see EUROPE 11460) a certain amount of concern. (PH)
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