A recent article published by Newsweek Polska highlights growing concerns among LOT Polish Airlines cabin crew over fatigue, working conditions and job security. While the experiences described are specific to LOT, they reflect challenges that cabin crew and aviation workers face across Europe. Although the full article is behind a paywall, it is well worth taking note of its key findings, which highlight challenges that remain highly relevant for cabin crew throughout the industry.
The article portrays a demanding working environment, with irregular schedules, long working days, time-zone changes and periods of significant fatigue. Crew members describe spending many hours preparing for flights, travelling as passengers to their place of work and dealing with delays, while not all of this time is considered paid working time. They also raise concerns about roster planning, leave arrangements and the pressure created by staff shortages.
Another key issue is the widespread use of B2B self-employment contracts at LOT. According to the article, the majority of the airline’s nearly 2,000 cabin crew members work under such arrangements. Crew representatives argue that this can leave workers with less protection when they are sick and may create additional economic pressure to continue working.
This has an important connection to aviation safety. According to Newsweek Polska, some LOT cabin crew members fear reporting themselves as "unfit to fly", despite safety rules requiring crew to declare when they are not fit for duty. Employees interviewed claim that repeated declarations can trigger management scrutiny or medical assessments, although LOT denies any limits and says crew are expected to report health issues whenever necessary. The concern is particularly acute among crew working under B2B contracts, where sick leave may result in reduced income, creating pressure to continue working while unwell. As one crew member told the magazine: “Everyone here is afraid of being ill.”
These concerns are particularly relevant from a trade union and aviation safety perspective. Josef Maurer, Head of Aviation and Maritime at the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), told Newsweek Polska:
“Almost 90% of cabin crews in Europe have employment contracts, while in Poland the figure is under 20%. That’s a huge difference.”
Maurer stresses that B2B contracts are not inherently unsafe. However, employment conditions can influence whether workers feel secure enough to report fatigue, health problems or other safety concerns. A strong safety culture depends on workers being able to speak up without fear of negative consequences.
The experiences described by Newsweek Polska therefore reach beyond one airline. They raise broader questions about how Europe’s aviation sector can grow while ensuring that the people responsible for passengers’ safety have the working conditions, protection and support they need. As one former LOT cabin crew member put it: “We can unite, even if it is only to complain together on an airplane.” For ETF, that ability to unite is about much more than complaining. It is an essential part of building a fairer, safer and more sustainable European aviation sector.
