As a whole bunch of pilots working for SAS stroll out, affecting 30,000 passengers per day, the Scandinavian airline’s boss has referred to as the strike “reckless” – warning that it places the corporate’s future in danger.
Members of the pilots’ unions have been threatening to take industrial motion since 9 June. Talks between administration and the unions have been ongoing, however SAS says these negotiations have damaged down – including that it needs to proceed mediation and finish the strike as quickly as potential.
Industrial motion started virtually without delay, with dozens of cancellations from lunchtime onwards from Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm airports.
The airline predicts that about half of all scheduled SAS flights shall be cancelled, affecting round 30,000 passengers per day.
Flights operated by associate airways SAS Hyperlink and SAS Join are unaffected.
Anko van der Werff, SAS president and chief govt, stated: “We deeply remorse that our prospects are affected by this strike, resulting in delays and cancelled flights.
“We all know all our passengers have been eager for this summer season vacation and have booked travels for themselves and their family members.”
He accused the pilots of “an incredibly low understanding of the important state of affairs that SAS is in”.
The provider has excessive prices and faces intense competitors from finances airways together with easyJet, Norwegian, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Mr van der Werff stated: “A strike at this level is devastating for SAS and places the corporate’s future, along with the roles of 1000’s of colleagues, at stake.
“The choice to go on strike now demonstrates reckless behaviour from the pilots’ unions.
“The strike has a detrimental affect on the liquidity and monetary place of the corporate and, if extended, such affect might develop into materials.
“We presume that the SAS Scandinavia pilots’ unions realise what’s at stake and select to proceed the work to seek out an settlement.”
One of many unions concerned, Svensk Pilotförening of Sweden, has lengthy been calling for senior administration to get replaced. It tweeted: “For lengthy, SAS’s funds have been mismanaged and, as an alternative of tackling the actual issues, administration has repeatedly requested the house owners for cash.
“Will SAS’s funds enhance if the identical individuals in administration proceed to do the identical issues?”
Passengers who can’t switch to unaffected SAS flights can “organize different technique of journey themselves and search reimbursement from SAS”.
The airline warned: “Attributable to peak season, the likelihood to rebook affected prospects to equal flights shall be extremely restricted.”
SAS usually operates from London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Aberdeen to a spread of Scandinavian cities.
