A Scandinavian airline is apologizing to passengers after a pilot strike forced the carrier to cancel more than 670 flights on Friday. Scandinavian Airlines, also known as SAS, announced that Swedish, Norwegian and Danish pilots’ unions have decided to strike as of Friday, though the carrier claims it is working “to reach a solution as quickly as possible.” A total of 673 flights were canceled Friday, affecting or effectively stranding approximately 72,000 passengers, the BBC reports. PASSENGERS SCREAM, PANIC AFTER EASYJET FLIER ATTEMPTS TO OPEN CABIN DOOR The cancellations account for roughly 70 percent of SAS’ flights, as those operated by the carrier’s partners, as well as SAS Ireland, are still scheduled to fly, according to Bloomberg. The pilots’ strike comes amid ongoing negotiations over schedules and wages, which began in March. The SAS Pilot Group is reportedly seeking a 13-percent increase in salaries, though the airline has said meeting such demands would have “negative consequences” for the carrier. In a press release, SAS Pilot Group, which represents 95 percent of the carrier’s Scandinavia-based pilots, said deteriorating working conditions and unfair scheduling were major points of contention. The group also confirmed that 1409 of its pilots were striking, in total. “Many of the SAS pilots today do not have control over where, when and how long they should work. In the worst case, one can risk working seven weekends in a row,” the union said in the release, per a translation. WOW AIR CEASED OPERATIONS, TOLD TRAVELERS TO FIND ALTERNATIVE FLIGHTS HOME A representative for SAS was not immediately able to comment on the carrier’s plans for stranded customers. In a video message to passengers, SAS CEO Rickard Gustafson said the airline will “do everything we can to try to find a solution for you as a customer,” and “do everything in our power to end the conflict.” Gustafson also said he deeply regrets any issues the strikes have caused. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The carrier is directing travelers to its website for more information on the strike, and urging they check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport. SAS is also offering refunds for affected passengers, and voluntary rebookings for future travelers concerned about the ongoing strike.<doc-sep>SAS, the joint flag carrier of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, said a further 110,000 passengers would be affected by the cancellations on Monday and Tuesday after a pilot strike left 170,000 travelers stranded on the weekend. "We deeply regret that our customers are affected," said the airline. Disrupted are Nordic, European and long-haul flights. Unaffected are about 30 percent of flights operated by SAS subcontractors or partners. Unions representing some 1,500 striking pilots say they want compensation for wage cuts and other concessions made in 2012, when SAS nearly collapsed, as well as more predictable working hours with less fatigue. The Swedish Confederation of Transport Enterprises puts the wage increases demanded by pilots at 13 percent, labeling it "excessive." Mediators said big differences existed when talks broke down on Friday. On Sunday, both SAS, Swedish and Danish unions and Norway's NHO employers association said no renewed contacts had been made. SAS, part-owned by Sweden and Denmark, warned that agreeing to the pilots' demands would seriously damage the airline's recovery prospects. "SAS must show a real willingness to discuss and meet around the negotiating table," said Rawaz Nermany, president of the Swedish Air Line Pilots Association, which initiated the strike. The Danish lender Sydbank on Friday predicted that the strike was likely to cost SAS 60 to 80 million Danish kronor (€8-11 million, $9-12 million) per day. ipj/amp (Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP) Every evening, DW sends out a selection of the day's news and features. Sign up here.<doc-sep>STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Scandinavian airline SAS canceled more than 1,200 flights scheduled for Monday and Tuesday as a pilot strike that has disrupted the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers entered its third day on Sunday. SAS pilots went out on strike on Friday as wage talks broke down, grounding around 70 percent of the airline’s flights and impacting about 280,000 passengers including the latest cancellations. “We deeply regret that our customers are affected by the ongoing pilot strike when SAS now cancels flights on Monday and Tuesday,” the airline said in a statement. “The strike will affect an additional 61,000 passengers on Monday when 667 flights are canceled across Scandinavia. On Tuesday 49,000 passengers and 546 departures will be affected.” The deadlock in the dispute showed no sign of being broken early on Sunday with both SAS, Swedish and Danish pilots unions and Norway’s employers association NHO saying no renewed contacts between the parties had been initiated. The carrier created after World War 2, which remains part-owned by the Swedish and Danish governments, has said it was prepared to return to negotiations but warned that agreeing to pilots’ demands would seriously damage the company. The airline industry’s employer body in Sweden has said pilots sought a 13 percent wage hike despite what it called already high average wages of 93,000 Swedish crowns ($9,777) a month, demands it labeled as “extreme”. The SAS Pilot Group, a union body representing 95 percent of the airline’s pilots in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, has said the dispute concerns more than wages, pointing to demands for more predictable working hours. Having flirted with bankruptcy in 2012, SAS has run a net profit in each of the last four years. But rising fuel costs, volatile currencies and overcapacity among European airlines has put pressure on carriers, including SAS. Sydbank analysts have estimated the strike costs the airline 60-80 million Swedish crowns per day, a rate which would wipe out the expected net profit this year in just two weeks. The strike at SAS does not affect flights operated by its partners, which make up roughly 30 percent of all departures.<doc-sep>SAS said it was cancelling hundreds of flights scheduled for Sunday as a pilot strike at the Scandinavian airline entered its second day on Saturday. "We deeply regret that our customers are affected by the ongoing pilot strike that has led to delays and cancelled flights," SAS said in a statement. "Due to the strike another estimated 64,000 passengers will be affected when 587 flights are cancelled across Scandinavia." SAS pilots went out on strike on Friday as wage talks broke down, grounding around 70 per cent of the airline's flights and impacting the travel plans of an estimated 170,000 passengers over the weekend alone.<doc-sep>
Another estimated 64,000 passengers will be affected when 587 flights are cancelled across Scandinavia Scandinavian airline SAS cancelled hundreds of flights scheduled for Sunday as a pilot strike entered its second day, disrupting the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers. SAS pilots went on strike on Friday as wage talks broke down, grounding around 70 percent of the airline's flights and hitting some 170,000 people over the weekend alone. "We deeply regret that our customers are affected by the ongoing pilot strike," SAS said in a statement on Saturday outlining its flight cancellations for the rest of the weekend. "Due to the strike another estimated 64,000 passengers will be affected when 587 flights are cancelled across Scandinavia." SAS has taken steps such as offering free food to passengers waiting to find alternative flights at airports across Scandinavia, but several travellers complained on social media that they were unable to reach the airline's customer services. "Hey SAS I've been trying to contact you for a day now," one wrote on Twitter, to which SAS responded: "Our customer service is answering the phone as fast as they can. Try again". The flag carrier, which is part-owned by the Swedish and Danish governments, has said it is prepared to resume negotiations but warned that meeting pilots' demands would have dire consequences for the company. The aviation industry's employer body in Sweden has said pilots demanded a 13 percent wage hike, despite what it called already high average wages of 93,000 Swedish crowns a month. The SAS Pilot Group, a union body representing 95 percent of the airline's pilots in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, says that the dispute concerns more than simply wages, pointing to demands for more predictable and transparent working hours. Analysts at Sydbank have estimated that the strike is costing SAS 60-80 million Swedish crowns ($6.3 million to $8.41 million) per day, which would effectively wipe out the airline's expected net profit for the year were it to last two weeks. The strike at SAS does not affect flights operated by its partners, which make up roughly 30 percent of all departures. The airline said it was offering passengers booked on flights through May 1 to reschedule free of charge.