In 2021, Romanian courts ruled that Wizz Air must reinstate the pilots who were illegally dismissed during the Covid pandemic. The low-cost airline has now begun the official process of reinstating the pilots.
FPU Romania welcomes this decision, as do the pilots involved. However, as one reinstated pilot, who asked to remain anonymous for professional reasons, stated:
“We expect the procedures put in place to respect not only the airline’s operational manuals and local and EU legislation but also to include the trade union as a necessary part of a proper and effective reinstatement process.”
The pilots asked for justice
For many of the pilots affected, the pandemic meant a sudden break in their career, their professional identity, and their trust in a system that claims to place safety above everything else, explains Mircea Constantin, who is General Secretary of FPU Romania, the union for aviation employees in Romania.
He further adds that jobs were lost for reasons incompatible with flight safety, and that is why the pilots challenged those decisions in court.
“The pilots asked for justice, and FPU Romania did what we exist to do: protect and defend the rights of employees in aviation. And we won.”
FPU Romania: We fight injustices
Romanian courts found that the dismissals breached labor law. In a separate case, courts went further and identified discriminatory elements, which is a case that is still pending before the Supreme Court.
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Mircea Constantin says:
“One message has been clear throughout the pandemic crisis: attempts to bypass labor law will be challenged. And FPU Romania has the expertise and determination to stop these injustices.”
He explains that reinstatement restores seniority rights and continuity, as if the dismissal never happened. Wizz Air finally recognizes that the employment relationship should not have been broken and that the company is legally obliged to repair it.
“This is not a matter of goodwill, but a legal duty. We expect this process to be straightforward, non-problematic, and conducted in good faith,” said Mircea Constantin.
FPU Romania has formally requested to be present throughout the reinstatement process, together with legal counsel, in order to ensure clarity.
“We are not interested in escalating. We want to make sure that representation is guaranteed so the reinstatement is implemented fairly, consistently, and in full compliance with Romanian and EU law,” says Mircea Constantin.
How a good reinstatement process looks like
1. Representation comes first
Trade union support. It is a normal part of a lawful reinstatement process and a safeguard for everyone involved. When unions are at the table, things stay clear, fair, and professional.
2. Back to normal, not back to zero
Reinstatement is about restoring the situation that should never have been broken. Seniority, qualifications, and professional continuity matter. You are coming back to your job, not starting over.
3. The way the airline speaks matters
Reinstatement is also about tone. Communication should be clear, respectful, and supportive, sending one simple message: we want you back. Owning past mistakes, offering reassurance, and treating returning crew with value is what turns a legal correction into a real reset.
Wizz Air Malta is a part of the Wizz Air Group and has been active in Romania since 2007.
Read more Wizz Air is shifting jobs again. This time to a Maltese subsidiary
