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SAS ‘Sympathy Strike’ Provides To Vacation Misery In Scandinavia

Close to 200 plane mechanics have joined the nearly 1,000 SAS pilots in strike action in excess of functioning ailments and corporate restructuring options at the struggling airline.

“It usually takes two to tango, but SAS did not want to dance at all, they only wanted conflict. SAS administration should bear 100% responsibility,” mentioned Keld Bækkelund Hansen, head of negotiations at Dansk Metal, the trade union joining the industrial motion.

SAS Strike Hottest: Extra departures at chance

As SAS aircraft should be serviced each and every 3 days, it dangers further more disruption to flight schedules throughout Scandinavia. Hundreds of departures have now been canceled given that pilots started the strike on Monday.

At present, flights operated by subsidiaries SAS Hook up and SAS Website link along with most charter flights have been unaffected by the pilots’ strike. This could be set to adjust, as the hanging mechanics provider planes applied by SAS Connect and on some constitution routes.

SAS promises it does have a resolution, but there is an undoubted danger to more disruption possibly in the course of or quickly following the ongoing strike.

Countless numbers far more could be stranded

Charter tour operator Apollo Rejser informed DR that more than 12,000 holidaymakers could be left stranded as a result of the extra action.

Apollo revenue director Glenn Bisgaard stated they are anxious there will not be plenty of capability on option airways to convey anyone house. As European constitution journey is in the center of the superior period, accommodation will also be an issue in common locations this sort of as smaller sized Greek islands, which can e book up months in advance.

Apollo has sent a letter to SAS attractive for a swift finish to the conflict. “Even buses are tough to get maintain of. We basically do not know how to aid all stranded travelers get dwelling inside of a sensible time,” stated the letter.

SAS has an choice program for upkeep

SAS Denmark press supervisor Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji stated the airline has a resolution to guarantee SAS Connect plane are unaffected by the routine maintenance strike. “Specifically, SAS will, in get to reside up to rules on upkeep each individual a few days, have the planes inspected at other airports the place workers are not on strike,” she mentioned.

Of study course, whether this fits in with existing schedules remains to be seen, as aircraft are ordinarily preserved overnight.

The resolution will even now lead to problems later, however. Numerous aircraft presently grounded simply because of the pilots’ strike will now not get regular upkeep, which will trigger a hold off to getting them back again in the air. “When the pilots come again, we can not fly with them appropriate absent,” confirmed Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji.

Strike looks set to carry on

Although the mediation endeavours are confidential, info furnished by each sides looks to show there is even now a key gap between SAS administration and pilots’ unions.

The core of the conflict is about SAS selecting new pilots on less expensive agreements in the two new subsidiaries, SAS Connection and SAS Connect. Pilots say this is to stay away from an obligation to rehire the around 400 pilots laid off through the pandemic. Pilots have made available expense financial savings of 450 million Swedish kronor ($42 million) but SAS states this is not adequate if their cost reduction plan is to thrive.

If you are afflicted by the SAS strike, the airline maintains a most up-to-date standing site with info on your rights.