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Home » News » SAS Suffers Meltdown As Pilots Strike
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SAS Suffers Meltdown As Pilots Strike

Matthew Klint Posted onJuly 5, 2022November 14, 2023 12 Comments

the side of a plane

Over 60% of SAS flights have already been cancelled today as the airline faces a strike from pilots that has crippled operations and now led to a meltdown.

As Pilots Strike, SAS Suffers Meltdown With Over 60% Of Flights Cancelled

SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) is facing a labor battle that its CEO warns could sink the flag carrier of three Scandinavian states. Yesterday, 174 flights were cancelled, representing 52% of SAS’s total schedule. Today, that number has already reached 185 flights, representing 62% of the schedule according to Flight Aware. Anko van der Werff, the President and CEO of SAS, lamented:

“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.”

a man in a suit and tie standing in front of a plane
SAS CEO Anko van der Werff

Meditation will continue, but the two sides are far apart on a solution that will satisfy pilot demands. In a press release on the strike, SAS warned:

The strike has a negative impact on the liquidity and financial position of the company and, if prolonged, such impact could become material.

But Martin Lindgren, SAS Pilot Group chairman, countered:

“We have finally realized that SAS doesn’t want an agreement. SAS wants a strike. We hope we will be able to return to the negotiating table and meet, but it requires that the employer makes a move.”

If your flight is cancelled, you will have trouble reaching SAS via its contact centers, social media, or at the airports. If you are able to get through, SAS warns options will be limited:

Due to peak season, the possibility to rebook affected customers to equivalent flights will be highly limited. Customers whose flights are canceled, that we are unable to find viable alternatives for, are offered the options of either accepting a refund, or rebooking their ticket to a later date or to arrange alternative means of travel themselves and seek reimbursement from SAS.

This strike likely does qualify for EU261/2004 protection (and even domestic flights within Norway, even though Norway is not an EU member) though expect that to be litigated with an SAS claim that the cancellations constituted “extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.” You can find more info here.

CONCLUSION

SAS pilots are on strike, with over half of all SAS flights cancelled yesterday and already more than 60% this morning. If your flight is impacted, be realistic and look into alternate options – it is unlikely SAS can offer much assistance at this point. And if your flight is spared, it might not be for long. This become even messier in the days ahead.

image: SAS

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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12 Comments

  1. Mick Reply
    July 5, 2022 at 2:30 am

    My family and I are travelling for a few weeks in Europe and it’s mayhem. Took five days for our bags to get from gtw to flr. Then when they arrive they are put in a hangar out the back of the airport. I have videos of the bags. Must be 2000. You have to sort through them to find them. Luckily we’ve found 3/4 lolllll.

    Staff at Firenze completely overwhelmed.

    • Ryan Reply
      July 5, 2022 at 12:15 pm

      Maybe you should learn to not check bags lol

      • Mick Reply
        July 5, 2022 at 12:50 pm

        Agree. But nightmare with three kids trying to rush onboard and jam bags in the overhead. Plus we are traveling for a few weeks in Italy and then on to Asia.

        • Mick Reply
          July 5, 2022 at 12:52 pm

          Not to mention airports are chaos too. Gatwick had 2/5 restaurants open and no seat. Don’t want to be logging massive carry on around when it’s literally wall to wall with people.

  2. TravelSnapp Reply
    July 5, 2022 at 3:08 am

    SAS has now voluntary filed for Chapter 11 in the United States to undertake a court supervised financial restructuring.

    • GUWonder Reply
      July 5, 2022 at 6:17 am

      This US bankruptcy filing was part of the SAS management scheme even well before the pilots threatened to strike this summer.

  3. PM Reply
    July 5, 2022 at 5:52 am

    And to think I was considering flying with them (via CPH) to AMS in order to avoid disruption with KLM! Looks like I will be flying SN- but their revised website no longer supports the combined BeNeTrain tickets and I will have to call.

  4. CHRIS Reply
    July 5, 2022 at 8:29 am

    Strike yourselves right out of a job!….needs to happen over here too.

  5. Stuart Reply
    July 5, 2022 at 8:55 am

    The disconnect of pilots in the US and Europe is mind boggling. It’s as if they live in some alternate universe.

    • Koggerj Reply
      July 5, 2022 at 10:04 am

      They are part of the Democrat part base. It’s not surprising they are disconnected from reality.

      • Michael Reply
        July 5, 2022 at 8:23 pm

        Right…..and the party of Trump, QAnon, Rudy Giuliani, and the fable of a ‘stolen election’ is grounded in what exactly?

        That’s right….BU!!$7IT….

        What I find the most tragic about people like yourself and those who remain in what’s left of the Republican Party is that deep down the know they are nothing but a bunch of scared little cowards, falling in line behind the biggest coward of our generation – Donald Trump. What an embarrassment to all other Americans you are.

  6. Dick Bupkiss Reply
    July 5, 2022 at 10:59 am

    “Meditation will continue…”

    For those caught in travel meltdowns, meditation is always a good way to cope with stress and disappointment.

    Namaste.

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