SAS signs agreements with “seven out of eight unions”

Scandinavian carrier SAS has signed agreements with seven out of the eight unions representing its cabin crew, as the airline looks to secure its future. SAS had announced a deadline of yesterday (November 18) for reaching agreements with the unions over an extensive cost cutting plan, and this morning confirmed that it had secured agreements with all but the Danish cabin crew union. In a statement the carrier said that “Negotiations continue and SAS will publish additional information as soon as it is available”. SAS is attempting to push through the “4 Excellence Next Generation” (4XNG) plan, aimed at cutting annual costs cut by around SEK 3 billion (£278.5 million), with the loss of up to 6,000 jobs, salary reductions and the outsourcing of call centres and ground handling operations. Announcing the plan earlier this month, the carrier's president and CEO Rickard Gustafson stressed that "it truly is our 'final call' if there is to be a SAS in the future". For more information visit flysas.com. Report by Mark Caswell Join in our forum discussion on the future of SAS here.