Four pilots from DHL Express’ European airline unit European Air Transport (EAT) have taken legalaction against the express airline over alleged age discrimination, according to the German
newspaper Wiesbadener Tagblatt.The four pilots are claiming for damages of more than EUR 2 million at the labour court inBrussels after being dismissed due to their age, it reported. The case will be heard on November16.
The legal claim is based on EAT’s dismissal of pilots and co-pilots older than 60 in May 2006on the grounds they could no longer fly without restrictions. This was based on French and Italianregulations banning airlines that used pilots over 60, the newspaper said.
But the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) over-ruled these regulations inMarch 2006. Despite this, EAT dismissed the pilots in May 2006 even though they had permanentcontracts until the legal retirement age of 65. Since then, the airline has resumed employingpilots over 65, the newspaper said.
The dismissed pilots are claiming for further payment until they reach the legal retirementage. This would amount to more than EUR 2 million, the newspaper wrote. Brussels-based EAT operatesnight flights within Europe for DHL Express.
