The report, “UGent 2.0 – Evolving Social Challenges for Aircrew and the Need for Regulatory Response”, was produced by Ghent University with support from the European Commission and draws on responses from thousands of aircrew across more than 100 airlines in 2024. It follows up on the university’s 2015 study, which first documented the rise of “atypical” pilot contracts.
Key findings
The study found that 10.3% of aircrew in Europe are employed under atypical arrangements, including 5.8% who are self-employed, with concentrations in low-cost and wet-leasing carriers. These workers face:
- Greater job insecurity and weaker union protection.
- Reduced willingness to report fatigue and safety risks.
- Over 40% reporting that their contract influences safety-critical decisions.
- Between 35–45% avoiding reporting health or fatigue concerns out of career fears.
- More than 10% admitting they do not report safety incidents at all.
The challenges are no longer limited to atypical workers. Even permanently employed crew at legacy airlines report higher stress from scheduling, fatigue, and mental health pressures. For the first time, cabin crew were included in the survey, showing particular vulnerability, while younger staff reported the highest stress levels and weakest support structures.
Structural and legal gaps
The study highlights regulatory loopholes in EU law, particularly regarding home base rules. Over 10% of respondents – in some cases more than a third – reported that their official home base on paper did not match their actual operational reality, raising concerns over tax, social security, and employment law compliance.
Crews in Eastern Europe reported weaker safety cultures, while wet-leasing operators, despite employing a smaller share of the workforce, accounted for nearly a third of the most serious contractual inconsistencies.
Calls for EU action
At the report’s presentation in Ghent, Prof. Dr. Yves Jorens stressed: “Labour conditions are no longer just a social issue – they have an impact on safety, well-being, and fatigue that are all interrelated! Without fair and stable employment, we cannot sustain a safe and resilient European aviation sector.”
The authors urge EU institutions to:
- Strengthen employment protections.
- Enforce home base rules more strictly.
- Integrate crew well-being into safety management systems.
- Improve collective representation to ensure all crew have a voice.
With the European Commission currently reviewing Regulation (EC) 1008/2008 (Air Services Regulation), the study suggests this is a critical opportunity to address flaws, including clarifying definitions of home and operational bases.
The UGent 2.0 study was carried out with the European Cockpit Association (ECA), the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), and the European Network Airlines Association (ENAA).
For aviation stakeholders, the findings highlight that employment models are directly linked to flight safety, making regulatory reform and stronger protections a priority for the industry’s long-term resilience.
