Avion Express Brasil Crew Validate Labor Agreements for ACMI Operations
With 100% approval, pilots and cabin crew validated the labor conditions that will govern the airline's ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) operations between 2025 and 2026.
/https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2025/02/avion_express_a320.jpg)
Pilots and cabin crew members of Avion Express Brasil have approved with 100% favorable votes the proposed Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) that will govern the company's operations in the country. The online vote, conducted by the National Union of Aeronauts (SNA) on August 14 and 15, saw no abstentions and gave a green light to a labor framework specifically designed for the airline's business model.
The agreements, one for technical crew (captains and first officers) and another for cabin crew (flight attendants), will be effective from August 15, 2025, to November 30, 2026. These instruments were signed by Tiago Rosa, president of the SNA, and Esteban Jauregui Lorda, CEO of Avion Express Brasil.
Avion Express Brasil, part of the Lithuanian group Avia Solutions Group, is the first airline in the country exclusively dedicated to the ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) leasing model. This business model involves providing aircraft with a full crew, maintenance, and insurance to other airlines to cover seasonal demand peaks or unforeseen operational needs. The nature of this operation requires a high degree of flexibility, an aspect the new agreements aim to regulate.
What is a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)?
A CBA is a legally binding agreement signed between a workers' union and a specific company. Its purpose is to establish particular working conditions for that company, which take precedence over the general sector-wide Collective Labor Convention (CCT), as long as they do not violate fundamental rights.
Key Clauses for a Flexible Model
The approved documents introduce several clauses adapted to the seasonality of the Brazilian aviation market, where demand fluctuates between high and low seasons.
The core points include:
Paid Leave to Provide Services to Third Parties: During periods of low demand, the company may grant paid leave for its crew members to work for other airlines, especially for other companies within the same group abroad. During this leave, the crew member maintains their employment contract and receives the category's base salary, in addition to benefits such as a health plan and life insurance from Avion Express Brasil.
Virtual Base: Crew members can voluntarily opt into "virtual bases" in cities other than their contractual base. From there, they can start and end their flight schedules and take their days off, while remaining under Brazilian regulation. This is not considered a transfer, so it does not entitle them to associated allowances.
Transitory Base: The agreements establish temporary bases with a maximum duration of 40 days. During this period, work schedules such as 40 days of service followed by 20 days of rest (40×20) may be applied. For overseas operations (limited to 180 days per year) , crew will receive an additional financial compensation of 25% of their nominal salary.
Flexible Days Off: Crew members can voluntarily opt to have 8 or 9 monthly days off (instead of the standard minimum) in exchange for financial compensation. For example, a flight attendant opting for 8 days off will receive 700 BRL, while a captain in the same situation will receive an additional 1,400.00.
On his social media, Maurício Gomide, a cabin crew member at the company, celebrated the agreement, stating "Mais um passo importante na nossa jornada! Seguimos em frente, evoluindo e nos tornando" (Another important step in our journey! We keep moving forward, evolving and becoming).
Other Benefits and Conditions
In addition to the flexibility clauses, the agreements guarantee other benefits for the crew, such as a monthly food voucher of R$1,000.00 for all positions, a life insurance policy covering a value equivalent to 18 times the nominal salary, and a childcare allowance of R$600.00. It also establishes remuneration for ground time exceeding 60 minutes between flight legs.
Para comentar, debés estar registradoPor favor, iniciá sesión