Pilot unions hit back at Wizz’s call for staff to go the ‘extra mile’ when tired

The CE of Wizz Air is facing a backlash from pilot unions after suggesting staff should “go the extra mile” to fly when fatigued to help minimise flight cancellations and disruptions. In an internal briefing to staff leaked to the internet, József Váradi said the company needed to “take down the fatigue rate” that has led to staff shortages and cancellations. “I understand that fatigue is a potential outcome of the issues, but once we are starting stabilising the rosters, we also need to take down the fatigue rate,” he said on a video to staff. Varadi added: “We cannot run this business when every fifth person on a base reports sickness because the person is fatigued. We are all fatigued, but sometimes it is required to take the extra mile.” Wizz has been caught up in the barrage of flight cancellations that have hit the European airline industry in recent weeks, with many companies suffering from an acute staffing shortage. The European Cockpit Association, which represents pilots, has written to European safety regulators accusing Wizz of “a problematic corporate safety culture” following the emergence of the video. “The message of the CEO to his air crew is clear: to avoid reputational and commercial damage to the airline, air crew must lower their fatigue rates by flying fatigued and not calling in sick/fatigued,” the letter said. “This reinforces our previously shared concerns about Wizz Air’s deficient corporate culture, where inadmissible pressure is exerted on crew to fly on their days off, to extend flight times under ‘commanders’ discretion’ and to refrain from reporting fatigued. Such corporate behaviour is detrimental to passenger flight safety,” the pilots said.<br/>