In a press release easyjet today announced that it has applied for an AOC to Austro Control. If this process is completed successfully, it will enable the airline to continue to operate it’s inter and intra EU flights even if the UK should leave the EU.
Statement by Austro Control CEO Heinz Sommerbauer:
“Easyjet has applied for an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in Austria. The application was made earlier this year after a detailed so-called “pre-application phase”. If such an application is submitted, Austro Control is required to perform an assessment and reach a decision based on current EU regulations.
At this time Austro Control as aviation authority is not in a position to provide any further details regarding the ongoing assessment, but we expect a decision in the near future.
In the press release easyjet has stated, that this potential future airline (“easyjet Europe”) would have their headquarters and key personnel in Vienna and would fly under Austrian registration. This means that eaysjet Europe would be an Austrian airline.
Regarding the AOC application, we at Austro Control are legally obliged to asses Easyjet Europe in terms of the requirements that all airlines have to fulfill in order to operate under an Austrian AOC.
The concrete assessment focusses on:
- the organizational and management systems,
- what safety and quality systems are established
- which aircraft types will be in operation
- take-off and landing procedures
- qualification of pilots and cabin crews
- how simulator training is performed
In the case of an AOC being issued to Easyjet, Austro Control would be responsible for the permanent oversight of the new airline. In concrete terms the authority would perform regular audits and inspections, as is the case with all other national carriers on the Austrian register, such as Austrian, NIKI or Eurowings Europe. Flight inspectors would primarily focus on operational and technical aspects as well as the maintenance of the fleet, the same as with any other Austrian Airline.”
Press Release Easyjet
