“Unfortunately, we have not received an exception from the unions for Svalbard flights yet, but we hope and are optimistic that it will be approved for tomorrow.” This is what press manager Tonje Sund in SAS writes in an e-mail to news on Sunday morning. Assistant Governor Sølvi Elvedahl is in despair. According to Elvedahl, the situation on Svalbard is beginning to become critical. – For us, it is a very difficult situation. I am concerned about societal functions; we have critical health personnel who must be transported up to Svalbard and down. We have, among other things, nurses and personnel on rescue helicopters who are now on the mainland, says Elvedahl. She adds: – During this week, I think we will have problems both in terms of rescue and emergency preparedness if we do not get the personnel we need. Assistant Governor Sølvi Elvedahl urges that an exception be made for Svalbard in the pilot strike. Photo: Vilde Kristine Malmo / news 900 SAS pilots went on strike on Monday 4 July, and since then 1,004 flights in Norway have been canceled. In Svalbard, several hundred permanent residents and tourists have been affected by the pilot strike in SAS. On Sunday evening, 160 people will be evacuated by German cruise ship to the mainland. The Governor asked for an exception Elvedahl sent a letter to SAS on Saturday morning. In the letter, the Governor requested that SAS make an exception for Svalbard. The reason is that exceptions are made from the strike so that stranded charter tourists are flown home from several places in Europe this weekend. But the exception does not apply to Svalbard. – We feel that we are in at least the same situation as the tourists they have brought home, Elvedahl says to news. On Saturday, SAS sent an application to the pilots’ unions for a dispensation also for Svalbard. The parties worked on Saturday with a solution for Svalbard, but so far no solution has come to the table. – We have neither accepted nor rejected the application from SAS. We have not been able to take a position on the question of exceptions because we have not gathered enough information. It depends on needs and alternative transport options. This is what the leader of the Norwegian SAS pilots’ association, Roger Klokset, says. Roger Klokset, leader of the Norste SAS pilots’ association. Photo: Ksenia Novikova / news Mapping alternative transport On Sunday, the unions also received an application from SAS for a dispensation from Monday. – It is not certain that we will be able to come back with an answer on Monday. We have a dialogue with the Governor of Svalbard to map the need. We are also conducting research to find out if it is possible to use alternative means of transport to avoid the use of pilots who are on a legal strike, says Klokset. – Do you think about using cruise ships? – I do not want to go into which solutions are being studied. We will first complete the survey that we are working on n. Klokseter says he fully understands the frustration among residents and tourists on Svalbard who do not get to the mainland. – We take the issue of dispensation very seriously, he assures. Several hundred permanent residents and tourists are stuck on Svalbard as a result of the pilot strike. Photo: Line Nagell Ylvisåker – Few alternatives Assistant Governor Sølvi Elvedahl says it is difficult to find alternative transport to the mainland. – We try to look at other solutions, but it is difficult up here. We are 100 miles from the nearest hub, Tromsø. There are some private airlines that offer opportunities, but it is very expensive and few seats. There are also ships that can take people to the mainland, but it takes time. SAS has nine of eleven weekly departures between Longyearbyen and the mainland. Now only Norwegian flies ordinary routes, with three departures a week. The first available ticket is at the end of July, the overview shows on the company’s own website. – Norwegian tickets are sold on the black market at a blood price, says Elvedahl. – We ask that SAS set up at least a few routes for us.
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– Need more time to map alternative transport – news Troms and Finnmark
