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The report, UGent 2.0 – Evolving Social Challenges for Aircrew and the Need for Regulatory Response, was conducted by Ghent University and supported by the European Commission. It surveyed thousands of aircrew working for over 100 airlines in 2024, providing one of the most comprehensive assessments of working conditions in the sector.s
The study follows up on a landmark 2014 report from Ghent University, which first documented the spread of “atypical” contracts in aviation. Ten years on, the findings show that insecurity, fatigue, and stress are now entrenched across the industry, with direct consequences for safety culture.
Key findings:
- Employment insecurity undermines safety: Four in ten crew members report that their contract status affects their ability to make critical safety decisions, such as declaring themselves unfit to fly.
- Fear culture prevents reporting: Up to 45% of respondents avoid reporting fatigue or health concerns out of fear for their careers, while more than 10% do not report safety incidents at all.
- Perceived disposability of staff: 58% of respondents believe their airline views employees negatively, describing a sense of being treated as numbers rather than professionals.
- Misuse of home base declarations: More than one in ten pilots—up to 35% in some airlines—report that their contractual home base does not match their actual operational one. This practice enables some airlines to reduce tax and social security contributions, raising concerns about worker exploitation and unfair competition.
- East–West safety divide: Aircrew in Eastern Europe reported weaker safety cultures, lower reporting rates, and more reluctance to highlight fatigue compared with colleagues in Western Europe.
Policy implications
The study’s authors stress that these findings should inform ongoing EU debates on fair mobility and labour rights. Recommendations include ensuring clear employment conditions, monitoring compliance with labour laws and collective agreements, addressing bogus subcontracting practices, regulating wet-leasing, and safeguarding fair competition within European aviation.
Next steps
The full report will be presented on Friday, 26 September, during the conference “Aircrew cleared for take-off?” in Ghent. The event will bring together academics, workers’ and employers’ representatives, EU policymakers, national authorities, industry analysts, and media to discuss the study’s findings and possible regulatory responses.
For travel trade and aviation professionals, the report underscores the increasing link between employment conditions and operational safety, highlighting the need for regulatory clarity and consistent enforcement across the European market.
Tags: Ghent University European Commission
