SAS reaches agreements with SAS Scandinavia pilots' unions, ending the pilot strike

19 Jul 2022 03:20 CEST

After 15 days of strike, SAS and SAS Scandinavia pilots' unions have concluded
mediation. The parties have agreed on new 5.5-year collective bargaining
agreements and flights operated by SAS Scandinavia will resume according to
their regular traffic program as soon as possible.

Following a 15-day strike action, SAS and SAS Scandinavia pilots' unions* have
reached an agreement on new collective bargaining agreements and the pilot
strike has ended.

"I am pleased to report that we now have come to an agreement with all four
pilot unions for SAS Scandinavia and the strike has ended. Finally, we can
resume normal operations and fly our customers on their much longed-for summer
holidays. I deeply regret that so many of our passengers have been impacted by
this strike," said Anko van der Werff, President & CEO.

The 5.5-year agreements between SAS and the SAS Scandinavia pilots' unions are a
key element of SAS' comprehensive business transformation plan SAS FORWARD, as
they provide the stability and predictability required by potential investors.

The agreements include cost savings in line with the set targets in the SAS
FORWARD plan relating to the pilots' terms and conditions, taking SAS one
important step closer to achieving its SAS FORWARD target of SEK 7.5 billion in
annual cost savings.

In short, the agreements imply increased productivity for the SAS Scandinavia
pilots and increased flexibility in seasonal production. The terms and
conditions of the agreements also yield a lowered unit cost for the SAS
Scandinavia pilots.

Additionally, as part of the agreement between SAS and SAS Scandinavia pilots'
unions, a number of pending litigation previously initiated by the pilots'
unions and/or individual pilots against SAS will be withdrawn. In accordance
with a restructuring support agreement to be entered into between the parties in
the chapter 11 process, SAS has granted the unions a general unsecured pre
-petition claim for the pilots in the amount of SEK 1.0 bn in SAS voluntary
financial restructuring process. Distributions under that unsecured claim will
be capped at SEK 100 million and made over 5.5 years, corresponding to the term
of the agreements.

Finally, SAS has committed to the rehire, and subsequent full-time employment,
of 450 pilots in tandem with the ramp-up of flight operations until 2024.

With these labor agreements in place, SAS will now be able to proceed with its
process to secure funding to support the company's on-going operations - which
it expects to finalize within the next few weeks - throughout its voluntary
financial restructuring process.

"With these agreements in place, the pilots are doing their part in this
difficult situation. We now get on with the important work of progressing our
transformation plan SAS FORWARD and building a strong and competitive SAS for
generations to come, with the support of our pilots' unions and all other
stakeholders. The strike has been a tough situation for our customers, for our
employees, and for our company as a whole. I would like to extend my sincere
gratitude to all of my SAS colleagues who have worked tirelessly these past
weeks to help our customers," Anko van der Werff concludes.

The agreements between SAS and the SAS Scandinavia pilots' unions are subject to
approval by the members of all four unions and, as SAS is currently undergoing a
voluntary financial restructuring in the U.S., the final agreements are also
subject to approval by a U.S. federal court.  The company expects to receive the
necessary approvals within the next few weeks.

As previously announced, the estimated effect of the strike is approximately SEK
100-130 million per day (US$9.5-$12.5 million) in lost revenue and costs. To
date, the financial impact of the strike is expected to exceed SEK 1.5 billion
(US$145 million). It is too early to provide more specific information about the
total financial impact of the strike, but after 15 days of strike action
approximately 380,000 passengers have been affected by approximately 3,700
canceled flights.

Some traffic disruptions will continue during the following days while normal
traffic is resumed. For up-to-date information on traffic disruptions, please
visit https://www.flysas.com/en/traffic-information/message/

* SPF (Svensk Pilotförening), NSF/NF (Norsk Flygerforbund), SNF (SAS Norge
Pilotforening) and DPF (Dansk Pilotforening)

For further information, please contact:

SAS press office, +46 8 797 29 44

This is information that SAS AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU
Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication by Louise
Bergström at 03:20 a.m. CEST on July 19, 2022.

SAS, Scandinavia's leading airline, with main hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and
Stockholm, is flying to destinations in Europe, USA and Asia. Spurred by a
Scandinavian heritage and sustainable values, SAS aims to be the global leader
in sustainable aviation. We will reduce total carbon emissions by 25 percent by
2025, by using more sustainable aviation fuel and our modern fleet with fuel
-efficient aircraft. In addition to flight operations, SAS offers ground
handling services, technical maintenance and air cargo services. SAS is a
founder member of the Star AllianceT, and together with its partner airlines
offers a wide network worldwide. Learn more at https://www.sasgroup.net

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