Croatia crew request “stress and danger” benefits

Staff turn on Dash 8

Croatia Airlines cabin crew are asking for additional payments for all staff working on the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft due to “added stress and danger”. The cabin crew have requested an additional 130 euros per day for all crew working on the aircraft after talks with the airline’s management over a new collective agreement collapsed last week. Both pilots and cabin crew have expressed their anger for having to work on the Bombardier which has experienced several minor safety incidents over the past few years. Technicians have complained that maintaining the aircraft takes much longer than the larger Airbus jets while in 2012 there were a series of problems relating to the aircraft’s forward exit. Last year a Croatia Airlines pilot explained how he bizarrely had to use butter to lubricate the door in order for it to close.

The cabin crew union is also asking to be allocated two passenger seats on each Bombardier for rest time. Croatia Airlines introduced its first Dash 8 aircraft in May 2008. The airline operates a total of six turboprops from the Canadian manufacturer, which has a capacity to seat 76 passengers. The aircraft has been praised by the airline’s management several times as it burns less fuel and has lower operational costs.

Meanwhile, the Union of Croatia Airlines Pilots said yesterday a strike was imminent after the airline’s management refused to back away from plans to cut pay by 20%. In a statement the carrier said, “We simply cannot accept the new conditions set out by pilots and cabin crew as it would harm the airline’s restructuring process which could lead to bankruptcy”. Last night Croatia Airlines managed to sign new collective agreements with its Maintenance and Engineering Union. The airline’s pilots and cabin crew held a 24 hour strike last March.