PILOTS' ASSOSIACION STEPS UP AGAINST DEPORTATIONS

16 Feb 2001 - The managing board of the powerful German pilots' association "Vereinigung Cockpit" has decided to give new recommendations concerning deportations to their members. Up to now they gave the advice to the pilots to follow the deportation order to avoid difficulties with the employing airlines. Now the recommendations change: Cockpit recommends to ask the deportees in every case, if they agree to be transported. If not, the pilot should refuse the transport.

Cockpit emphasizes, that they have no political reasons for this decision, but they fear criminal proceedings against the pilot in the case of the death or injuries of a deportee (like in Austria and
Belgium, as they say). The recommendations has been published in the association’s magazine and are available [in german] on the association’s website

As most German pilots are members of the association cockpit, the decision of the managing board could have unforeseeable consequences for the deportation.class business. Of course the first step for the authorities will be to book more flights on foreign airlines. But as we experience, also the pilots of KLM, Air France and Sabena are more cautious and often refuse the transport, if someone is shouting for help or something similar happens.

The danger of criminal proceedings against the pilot is founded in
international law (Treaty of Tokio from 1963). We expect that other European Pilots association will follow the example of Cockpit. The refusal to transport deportees against their will, hits the European deportation System at one of its most vulnerable spots and will get it into serious trouble.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT DEPORTATION ALLIANCE

9.Feb.2001 - The Deportation Alliance airline Network has a new Chief Executive Officer. On February 11th Jan Hoffmann officially took over the helm from Justin L-H. Webber, who served as the first CEO of the alliance and resigns after 5 successful years of service.

The changing of the Guard took place at a special meeting on the expansion of the European activities of the Deportation Alliance in Brussels, Belgium.

Jan Hoffman joined the Deportation Alliance from Deutsche Lufthansa, where he held a number of senior executive functions - the most recent being Executive Vice President of in Charge of Lufthansa's deportation.class brand. Jan Hoffman was responsible for the development, implementation and successful operation of the deportation.class that has made the Deportation Alliance member carrier Lufthansa one of the most successful companies operating in the field of forced repatriations.

One of the first objectives of the new CEO is the expansion of the successful deportation.class brand to other deportation class member carriers.

NEW DEPORTATION.CLASS WEBSITE ONLINE

1.Feb.2001 - Today the completely redesigned deportation.class website has been re-launched at www.deportation-class.com. The site offers a wide variety of services: Lufthansa has expanded the number of deportation.class destinations to more than 100. You can now book flights to these exciting destinations on-line and profit from the incredibly sharp prices.
The site also features a shopping section where you can choose from a wide range of deportation.class merchandise and offers you access to the renownd active-miles-program.

MIRROR CAMPAIGN STOPPED

10.Jan.2001 - Withe the end of Lufthansa's legal proceedings against "kein mensch ist illegal" the campaign to mirror the deportation.class poster-exibition has been stopped. [see the statement [in german] of "kein mensch ist illegal - köln"] The campaign-site however will remain on-line as it still offers links to the mirror sites.
We want to thank everybody who mirrored or supported the exibition.