Brussels Airlines will benefit from ongoing European Union
legal changes that it argues will level the playing field for
nationally based legacy carriers compared to European-wide low-cost
carriers which establish outside their home bases. Under previous
legislation, airline employees were subject to taxes and social security
rules of their company’s home, and not their operating base. That
meant, for example, that Ryanair staff in Belgium paid lower taxes and had a competitive advantage against Brussels Airlines staff even though living in the same country.
This disadvantage was pushed into the limelight recently by what
Brussels Airlines deems was misinterpretation by the foreign press that
the airline would move headquarters to a more favourable labour location
like Luxembourg.
The airline affirms it has no intention to move its staff or
headquarters. Brussels Airlines will continue to call its namesake city
home.
Source and more information at: CAPA Centre for Aviation
