A whistleblower has claimed that a European budget airline's bonus scheme encourages them to try to fly more hours, according to investigative program Dispatches.
Wizz Air, Europe's third-biggest budget carrier, is suffering from a staff shortage and is encouraging crew members to work longer hours, the whistleblowing pilot who works for the airline told Channel 4's "Airport Chaos Undercover: Dispatches." The program airs on Monday evening, according to The Times.
"There is pressure for us to help out by flying on our days off," the anonymous whistleblower told Dispatches.
"There is also a summer bonus scheme that encourages pilots to fly more hours," the whistleblower told Dispatches. "You can report sick if you are fatigued, but you will lose financially."
"Our crews are paid extra if they work additional hours over the summer but we do not allow — nor do we incentivize — pilots to exceed the legal flying limits set out by the regulators," a Wizz Air spokesperson told Insider. "Regardless of recent flight time they have logged, we are clear that pilots must not work if they are fatigued."
The spokesperson said it's a legal requirement for pilots to report fatigue and for this they face no financial penalties. If Wizz Air pilots report fatigue and the airline can't find other...
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