Toxicity and fear: the causes of the threat to air safety identified

Pilots and cabin crew at European airlines are increasingly being forced to work overtime and hide signs of fatigue at the expense of safety, according to a major study, The Guardian reports.

A study by Ghent University in Belgium has found that cost-cutting and profit-seeking at airlines are “systematically weakening” flight safety, with many stressed-out employees feeling too intimidated to challenge management decisions.

The study, which surveyed 6,900 workers, also found concerns among flight attendants, who reported being forced to sell perfume and alcohol on board, which conflicts with their role in ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers.

The report notes that the Covid pandemic has accelerated the deterioration of working conditions, The Guardian continues.

Researchers say an entire generation of older pilots has left the industry, replaced by younger, cheaper, more flexible workers who are more likely to accept risky contracts that weaken their ability to meet standards.

When asked whether they feel confident in refusing to make decisions that appear potentially unsafe, more than half of respondents in the survey said they do not feel able to "change instructions" from management based on safety concerns. The results show a decline from a 2014 study, also conducted by Ghent University, which found that 82% of pilots said they felt able to change instructions.

About 30% of pilots said they were sometimes reluctant to make safety decisions due to fear of potential negative consequences for their professional careers.

"The shift to in-flight sales responsibilities may weaken the safety-focused nature of flight attendants' work, leading to role conflict, psychosocial stress, and legal ambiguity," write study authors Eve Jorens and Leen Valcke. "While commercial pressures may make this practice attractive to airlines, it negatively impacts worker well-being, safety standards, and professional integrity."

The study participants spoke of a “Swiss cheese model” in which protective layers are “systematically weakened (additional holes are created) for financial reasons, resulting in the final barrier to accidents being dependent on chance and luck rather than reliable protection.”

Due to the growing dominance of low-cost carriers and the recovery of air traffic after the pandemic, crews are forced to work longer shifts with fewer opportunities for rest. As a result, 42% of all crew members said management prioritizes flight planning over safety, according to researchers.

Fatigue is a persistent problem, and crew often feel unable to request time off, even when tired or feeling unwell. Nearly one in three pilots and nearly half of flight attendants admitted they sometimes hesitate to declare themselves unfit to fly.

Crew members were asked to share their opinions, which were provided anonymously. One said, "I feel like a criminal just because I'm sick." Another reported that the manager of their European base yelled, "You're here to fucking sell."

Others complained about not feeling valued. One said, "There's no concern for mental or physical well-being here. The airline prides itself on profit, not people's well-being. There's a culture of toxicity and fear in the workplace. This fear stems from the number of people they fire for stupid reasons."

When asked about their health and whether they felt airlines cared about their personal goals and well-being, 68% of crew members said their mental health was below the positive threshold, while 78% considered themselves “inhumane.”

The study found that atypical employment, such as short-term contracts or self-employed work, or agency work, as opposed to direct employment with airlines, is a concern, as these groups report worse conditions and lower well-being.

Younger age groups and those who worked in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and other Eastern European countries were more likely to hold atypical positions than older employees. Among those under 21, 41% held atypical jobs, while 52% of Eastern Europeans had atypical contracts.

Workload has increased compared to ten years ago due to digitalization, automation, and increased passenger traffic, leaving crews with less time to perform their tasks effectively, the study's authors note.

"A worrying trend is the growing use of 'fear management,' where well-being is not directly linked to safety," the authors argue. "Atypical work has not gone away, and the risks it posed ten years ago are now felt across the sector."

The study's authors said that without improved regulations and contracts, Europe's aviation industry risks losing its "safety advantages."

"Working conditions are no longer simply a social issue – they impact safety, well-being, and fatigue, which are all interrelated. Without fair and stable employment, we will not be able to ensure the safety and sustainability of the European aviation sector," said Jörens.

Ignacio Plaza, secretary general of the European Pilots' Association, the umbrella organization for pilots' unions, warned: "The race to cut contracts now affects every pilot, and when pilots feel pressure, passengers also feel at risk. These abuses require urgent investigation."