Book excerpt: Aerospace Law and Policy Series, Volume 23 In an increasingly competitive air transport environment, airlines are forced to adapt their business models, including employment conditions, in order to maintain and possibly enhance their presence in the market. The airline market is cyclical, and each traffic recovery is accompanied by numerous social developments; air laws and social regulations are becoming closer. This practical and thoroughly researched book brings together, for the first time, the topical legal issues relating to the employment of civil aviation personnel. Considering the latest publications, doctrinal opinions, legal bases, and case law, the author and several distinguished contributors cover such issues and topics as the following: EU social regulations in relation to third States; civil aviation safety rules that have an impact on the working conditions of crew members; social security systems applicable to crew members; competent court and labour law applicable to crew members’ employment relationships; key questions pertaining to posting crew members across borders; social issues related to the leasing of aircraft, including crew; data protection of crew members; atypical forms of employment in the aviation industry; right to strike for crew members; employment consequences of transfer of undertakings in civil aviation; and role of trade unions and collective labour agreements in air transport. The author also traces the process of liberalisation of the EU air transport market and its consequences on the operational structures of airlines and on the working conditions of crew members. For ease of reading, the annex to this book contains excerpts of the relevant legal texts. Lawyers, officials, business people, policymakers and academics with a professional interest in aviation law will find concise yet comprehensive guidance in this book that will help them to understand and address social and legal issues in the ever-changing world of aviation.