Around 1,100 crew, employed by Norwegian Air Resources UK (NAR UK), lost their jobs when the subsidiary went into voluntary liquidation in January 2021 following the airline’s decision to end long-haul flights.

Balpa took NAR UK to an employment tribunal claiming that the company failed to comply with its obligations under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act because it had not followed a collective consultation process. Balpa’s claim was successful at the tribunal.

The union said the tribunal’s decision was “positive news” for hundreds of Gatwick-based pilots who lost their jobs when NAR UK went into liquidation.

The tribunal declared that an award of 80 days’ pay should be made to those affected employees. Balpa said it would now co-ordinate the next steps in the process with the company’s liquidators from Interpath, which acquired KPMG’s UK restructuring business last year.

Balpa national officer, Terry Brandon said: “This will come as very welcome news to our ex- Norwegian Air Resources UK long-haul members who were thrown into real difficulty when they were dismissed by the company.  

“The financial reward may - in reality - be limited by the scope of the legislation but it is important that our members have been heard and their plight recognised.  

“Many of the pilots affected, over 250 in fact, are still unemployed as recruitment has been halted due to the pandemic. This result is important to them. 

“It sends the message to employers that they must follow the collective consultation process properly and that Balpa will do all it can to support members.” 

Interpath declined to comment on the outcome of the tribunal case when approached by TTG.