A majority of SAS pilots in Sweden, Denmark and Norway walked out on July 4 after negotiations over the terms of the Scandinavian carrier’s bailout failed. The parties returned to the negotiating table in the Swedish capital on Wednesday.
Norway’s national ombudsman, Mats Wilhelm Ruland, said the sides had grown closer during the day.
“Yes, we are, but there are still many big issues that need to be resolved,” he told E24 on during a break in negotiations on Saturday. “The evolution during the first hours has been good”.
SAS had been battling increased competition from low-cost carriers for years before the COVID-19 pandemic put pressure on the airline industry. The governments of Denmark and Sweden, which are the main owners, consider it a key part of the region’s transport infrastructure.
The airline said on Thursday the strike had caused 2,550 flight cancellations, affecting 270,000 passengers and costing the carrier between $94 million and $123 million.
Pilots employed by SAS Scandinavia, a subsidiary of SAS Group, have said they will accept limited pay cuts and less favorable terms, but SAS has said the concessions offered so far are not sufficient to enable it to conduct indeed a rescue plan announced in February.
Unions are also demanding that pilots who lost their jobs during the pandemic be rehired by SAS Scandinavia, rather than having to compete with external candidates for jobs on less attractive terms at the recently created SAS Link and SAS Connect. , based in Ireland.