SAS cancels 110 services on 21-May-2015, negotiations with pilots unions 'in final phase'

SAS stated (20-May-2015) it is "in the final phase" of negotiations with Swedish pilots' union Svensk Pilotförening (SPF) and Norwegian pilots' union NSF. As previously reported by CAPA, both unions intend to conduct strike action from 21-May-2015 should an agreement fail to be reached with the carrier. SPF postponed the commencement of strike action to 08:00 CEST on 21-May-2015 to allow for further negotiations. SAS is cancelling 110 services as a "precaution", adding its "firm intention is to reach an agreement in the negotiations." SAS stated: "The majority of SAS' Swedish domestic and international flights will be affected by a possible conflict on Thursday, May 21. There may be some traffic disruptions from Danish and Norwegian airports, both domestically and internationally. In total, around 25 percent of SAS flights are expected to be cancelled during an eventual strike." SAS president and CEO Rickard Gustafson said: "Our travellers will suffer at a conflict and I can only regret that we are now facing a situation threatening to affect many passengers in a negative way. Our ambition during the night is to continue the constructive negotiations and reach a joint solution which we have already done with more than half of the pilots. We have been responsive to the pilots' demands and sought solutions that meet their needs for employment and career opportunities in SAS and that simultaneously allows SAS to cope with the fierce competition in the airline industry." [more - original PR] [more - original PR - Swedish] [more - original PR - II - Swedish] [more - original PR - III - Swedish] [more - original PR - SPF - Swedish]