History

PALPU (Pancyprian Airline Pilots Union), was initially formed in 1979 when the Pilots and Flight Engineers of Cyprus Airways decided to withdraw from the largest union of the company, namely SYNYKA and pursue their own interests. The main reason for this decision was the fact that Pilots and Flight Engineers faced totally different issues with regards to working conditions than the rest of the ground based employees.

Initially, the Union was named CAPFETU (Cyprus Airways Pilots & Flight Engineers Trade Union) and had a total of twenty-two (22) members. They were all the Cypriot Pilots and Flight Engineers. A short while later, all foreign Pilots and Flight Engineers employed by Cyprus Airways, also joined in.

In 1994, CAPFETU was reformed in order to accommodate the Pilots of the newly formed subsidiary airline of Cyprus Airways, Eurocypria. The reformation involved changes in the constitution as well as the name to PALPU. Under these changes the Union is the only one in Cyprus which can represent any Pilot, working in any Cyprus based company, even the unemployed.

From the very beginning the Union joined IFALPA (International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations), in which it has had very active participation. It is worth mentioning that PALPU is the sole IFALPA representative in our area. Recently, upon its formation, it has also joined ECA (European Cockpit Association).

In an effort to join forces with other independent unions in Cyprus, PALPU was involved in the formation of POAS (Pancyprian Federation of Independent Trade Unions). The proceedings started in March 1994 and the Federation was formed in December 2007. It has eleven (11) independent unions as members, at present.

Ever since Cyprus Airways moved into all Airbus Fleet, the Flight Engineer position was abolished. At that point the Union managed a deal, enabling the vast majority of its Flight Engineers to move into flying and become Pilots.

At present, PALPU has 119 members all of whom are Cyprus Airways Pilots. It has a seven (7) member executive committee which is elected every two (2) years.

It is based in the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia.