SAS Pilots On Strike; Approximately 50% of All Flights Cancelled

(05 July 2022, 10:45 +07)  Members of the SAS Scandinavia pilots’ unions have been called out on strike, causing cancelations across the airline's flight schedule and negatively affecting thousands of travelers.

Since the notice of conflict was delivered on 9 June, mediation between the pilots’ unions and SAS has been held without success.

“We deeply regret that our customers are affected by this strike, leading to delays and canceled flights. We know all our passengers have been longing for this summer holiday and have booked travels for themselves and their loved ones. SAS employees are working hard to help our customers that have been affected by this unfortunate situation,” said Anko van der Werff, President & CEO. “A strike at this point is devastating for SAS and puts the company’s future together with the jobs of thousands of colleagues at stake. The decision to go on strike now demonstrates reckless behavior from the pilots’ unions and a shockingly low understanding of the critical situation that SAS is in.”

Tail fins of two SAS aircraft. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

The strike is estimated to lead to the cancelation of approximately 50% of all scheduled SAS flights and impact around 30,000 passengers per day. Flights operated by SAS Link, SAS Connect and SAS’ external partners are not affected by the strike.

“We are ready to resume mediation as soon as possible and we will do our utmost to reach an agreement that is viable to secure the long-term competitiveness and financial sustainability of the company. We presume that the SAS Scandinavia pilots’ unions realize what is at stake and choose to continue the work to find an agreement,” added Anko van der Werff.

Customers who have booked a flight with SAS are advised to check if their flight is impacted by the strike on the airline's website.

SAS has admitted that due to peak season, the possibility to rebook affected customers on equivalent flights will be highly limited. Customers whose flights are canceled, where viable alternatives are unavailable, are being offered the option of either accepting a refund, rebooking their ticket to a later date or arranging alternative means of travel themselves and seek reimbursement from SAS.

SAS also has a dedicated page for all information concerning traffic disruptions. Everyone who has a flight booked is advised to check the status of their flight on the website before going to the airport.

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