SAS and striking pilots closer to deal but issues remain, mediator tells E24

The tail fin of a parked Scandinavian Airways (SAS) airplane is seen on the tarmac at Copenhagen Airport Kastrup in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 3, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/

STOCKHOLM, July 16 (Reuters) – Disaster-hit airline SAS (SAS.ST) and unions have made progress on a brand new financial savings deal to finish a 13-day pilots’ strike, however vital points have but to be resolved, a mediator advised information company E24 on Saturday.

A majority of SAS pilots in Sweden, Denmark and Norway walked out on July 4 after negotiations over situations associated to the Scandinavian service’s rescue plan collapsed. The events returned to the negotiating desk within the Swedish capital on Wednesday. learn extra

Nationwide Mediator of Norway Mats Wilhelm Ruland stated the events had come nearer in the course of the day.

“Sure, we’re, however there are nonetheless many and large questions that have to be solved,” he advised E24 on throughout a break in negotiations on Saturday. “The event within the first hours has been good.”

SAS had been combating elevated low-cost competitors for years earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic heaped stress on the airline business. The governments of Denmark and Sweden, that are the most important homeowners, see it as a key a part of the area’s transport infrastructure.

The airline stated on Thursday the strike had precipitated 2,550 flight cancellations, affecting 270,000 passengers and costing the service between $94 million and $123 million.

Pilots employed by SAS Scandinavia, a subsidiary of SAS Group, have stated they might conform to restricted wage cuts and fewer beneficial phrases, however SAS has stated that concessions supplied up to now usually are not sufficient for it to hold out a rescue plan introduced in February. learn extra

Unions are additionally demanding that pilots who misplaced their jobs in the course of the pandemic are rehired at SAS Scandinavia, moderately than having to compete with exterior candidates for jobs on much less enticing phrases at just lately created SAS Hyperlink and Eire-based SAS Join.

Reporting by Johan Ahlander; Enhancing by Nick Macfie

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