Negotiations between SAS and the SAS pilots have ended for the day, says Henrik Thyregod, leader of the Danish pilot association around half past eight on Friday night. Ombudsman Mats Wilhelm Ruland says shortly afterwards that the parties will meet for a new meeting on Saturday at 10. The management and the SAS pilots have had new meetings tonight. – We work very intensely to find solutions, we have done that all day, says SAS ‘chief negotiator Marianne Hernæs to the press corps. – If we do not agree, then I actually do not know what is happening, she continues. She says they are working really hard to secure the future of SAS. – We have spent the day ensuring that what we actually agree on, it provides the savings that underlie SAS Forward. In addition, we must ensure that we do not destroy the potential of the income on which the collective agreement is based. Because if we do, then the conclusion is that there is no future for SAS, says Hernæs. – A trust that is not there The leader of the SAS pilots in Parat, Jan Levi Skogvang, returned to the negotiations on Friday, just after 17.00. He left the negotiations on Thursday, and justified it with a “private matter” in Norway. – Basically, it is about a trust that is not there, then you have to secure yourself in all possible ways, and have an agreement that we can trust. That’s very much what this strike is about. On Friday he was back. – This takes time here, SAS withdraws and spends time on its things, we may do the same. It is a very complicated process, he says. Skogvang has been a shop steward for over 20 years at SAS, and has been involved in a number of wage negotiations. – I have never experienced anything like it. It is currently uncertain how long the negotiations will last, and whether there will be meetings this weekend. – I have with me, so I can stay for a while, he says. Just after 16.00, Roger Klokset, leader of the Norwegian SAS pilots’ association, took a break to buy ice cream in the heat in Stockholm. – When there is no special contact between the parties, they are not exactly effective, Klokset says about the negotiations. – Has there been no contact between the parties today? – No, Klokset answers. The parties have not reached an agreement at 6 pm on Friday, Roger Klokset states. Riksmekler does not see a quick solution Riksmekler Mats Wilhelm Ruland that it is uncertain how long the parties will last today. – But I do not see a quick solution for me, the national mediator says to news. They will see if it is relevant to sit on the weekend, or if they should start up again on Monday. – I hope for a clarification today, but there is no guarantee for that, Ruland says. – When you say clarification today, do you think of clarification whether you will sit this weekend, or clarification in the negotiation? – Earlier today I hoped for the last, but now it is possible it will be the first. We have to look a little at what happens during the day, Ruland answers in the 1530s. On Thursday, the parties negotiated for almost 17 hours. They did not give up until the clock had passed an hour past midnight. Most SAS aircraft have to stay on the ground as a result of the pilot strike. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB The mediation started again at 10 o’clock on Friday in Näringslivets Hus in Stockholm. The parties describe the situation as demanding. Other airlines can earn good Associate Professor at BI and aviation analyst Espen Andersen say that SAS will have high costs in the future, even if the strike comes to an end. – It looks complex, and precisely this complexity is one of SAS’s problems. The fact that they are from three countries and not just one, makes it extra difficult, he explains. Aviation analyst Espen Andersen explains that SAS is in a complex situation. Photo: Gunhild Hjermundrud / news The SAS strike has led to more people booking flights with other airlines to get where they are going. Andersen explains that these companies would have had a lot of traffic at this time of year, but that they now fill up most of their flights. – The traffic they have received now, they have received at full prices. They have probably benefited quite solidly from that situation, says the aviation analyst. Losing millions every day On Friday, 167 SAS departures were canceled as a result of the strike. Of these, 85 of the flights were domestic, and 68 were within Schengen. So far, 14 international flights were canceled on Friday, according to figures from Avinor’s website. SAS has already canceled six departures on Saturday. Over 270,000 passengers have been affected so far. The strike costs SAS 100-130 million Swedish kroner per day. It is important to find a solution, which both parties agree on. It amounts to a total of 1-1.3 billion Swedish kroner so far, the company stated in a press release on Thursday. If SAS and the pilots agree, the company will get the planes in the air as soon as possible. But it will still take a couple of days to be in full operation again, SAS told news earlier this week. Flying to Svalbard On Friday, it was confirmed that SAS will fly to Svalbard until July. – Then the SAS management has confirmed that they will fly all the routes to and from Svalbard until July, writes assistant governor of Svalbard, Sølvi Elvedahl, in an e-mail to news. SAS Pilot Group announced yesterday that they are extending the exemption, which has now been approved by the SAS management. The dispensation basically lasted until Sunday 17 July.
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SAS concludes negotiations for the day – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
