SAS reaches agreements with pilots’ unions – Pilot strike in Denmark, Norway and Sweden has ended

Negotiations between SAS and SPF (Svensk Pilotförening), NSF/NF (Norsk Flygerforbund*), SNF (SAS Norge Pilotforening*) and DPF (Dansk Pilotforening*) are now concluded. The parties have agreed on new collective bargaining agreements and all flights in Denmark, Norway and Sweden will be resumed as soon as possible.

Following the pilot strike, that started on Friday, April 26th, the parties in all countries have now reached three-year agreements and the strike has been called off. The pilots will resume their work and traffic is expected to normalize over the next few days.

– It is with relief I now conclude that our customers soon will be flying again and that we will be able to pursue our commitment to travellers to, from and within Scandinavia, says Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO of SAS.

The agreements between SAS and the pilots’ unions concern predictability of scheduling, job security and salaries. In addition, the previously cancelled agreements concerning collaboration and career paths have been reintroduced.

– The three-year agreements provide stability for the future and the terms of the Swedish agreement are on par with the industrial benchmark for the Swedish labour market (the so-called “märket”). SAS operates in a highly competitive market and with these agreements we now need to intensify our work to build a long-term profitable and sustainable SAS, says Rickard Gustafson.

It is too early to provide an estimate of the financial effects, but after six days of pilot strike, approximately 360,000 passengers have been affected by 4,015 cancelled flights, while SAS’ other employees have worked around the clock to help our customers.

– I want to express my sincere gratitude to all those SAS employees who have worked day and night to help our customers in this difficult situation, Rickard Gustafson concludes.

Traffic disruptions will continue during the following days while normal traffic is resumed. For up-to-date information on traffic disruptions, please visit www.flysas.com/en/disruptions.

*) Formal approval subject to a member vote.

May 2, 2019 23:05