Disruption to SAS departures in and to/from Scandinavia continues to be disrupted by a pilots’ … [+]
Round 200 plane mechanics have joined the just about 1,000 SAS pilots in strike motion over working circumstances and company restructuring plans on the struggling airline.
“It takes two to tango, however SAS didn’t need to dance in any respect, they solely needed battle. SAS administration should bear 100% accountability,” stated Keld Bækkelund Hansen, head of negotiations at Dansk Metallic, the commerce union becoming a member of the commercial motion.
SAS Strike Newest: Extra departures in danger
As SAS plane have to be serviced each three days, it dangers additional disruption to flight schedules throughout Scandinavia. Lots of of exits have already been canceled since pilots started the strike on Monday.
At current, flights operated by subsidiaries SAS Join and SAS Hyperlink together with most constitution flights have been unaffected by the pilots’ strike. This could possibly be set to alter, because the hanging mechanics service planes utilized by SAS Join and on some constitution routes.
SAS claims it does have an answer, however there’s an undoubted threat to additional disruption both throughout or instantly after the continued strike.
1000’s extra could possibly be stranded
Constitution tour operator Apollo Rejser told DR that greater than 12,000 holidaymakers could possibly be left stranded on account of the extra motion.
Apollo gross sales director Glenn Bisgaard stated they’re involved there is not going to be sufficient capability on various airways to convey everybody house. As European constitution journey is in the midst of the excessive season, lodging will even be a problem in common locations akin to smaller Greek islands, which might ebook up months prematurely.
Apollo has despatched a letter to SAS interesting for a speedy finish to the battle. “Even buses are troublesome to pay money for. We merely have no idea assist all stranded vacationers get house inside an inexpensive time,” acknowledged the letter.
SAS has an alternate plan for upkeep
SAS Denmark press supervisor Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji stated the airline has a solution to make sure SAS Join plane are unaffected by the upkeep strike. “Particularly, SAS will, in an effort to stay as much as guidelines on upkeep each three days, have the planes inspected at different airports the place employees usually are not on strike,” she stated.
In fact, whether or not this suits in with current schedules stays to be seen, as plane are usually maintained in a single day.
The answer will nonetheless result in issues later, although. Many plane presently grounded due to the pilots’ strike will not obtain common upkeep, which can trigger a delay to getting them again within the air. “When the pilots come again, we can not fly with them immediately,” confirmed Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji.
Strike appears set to proceed
Whereas the mediation efforts are confidential, data supplied by each side appears to point there’s nonetheless a serious hole between SAS administration and pilots’ unions.
The core of the battle is about SAS hiring new pilots on cheaper agreements within the two new subsidiaries, SAS Hyperlink and SAS Join. Pilots say that is to keep away from an obligation to rehire the roughly 400 pilots laid off throughout the pandemic. Pilots have supplied value financial savings of 450 million Swedish kronor ($42 million) however SAS says this isn’t sufficient if their value discount plan is to succeed.
If you’re affected by the SAS strike, the airline maintains a latest status web page with data in your rights.
