Scandinavian airline SAS has confirmed that it will reject all passenger compensation claims resulting from the current pilots’ strike which began last Friday, and which has so far affected over 100,000 passengers. According to the airline, compensation need only be paid if flights are canceled owing to “extraordinary circumstances”, events which could not have been avoided even if the airline has taken reasonable measures.
SAS has made it clear that it views the pilots’ strike as being beyond its control and therefore compensation need not be paid to passengers. “Passengers are not entitled to compensation when the delay is caused by a strike, as that is considered an extraordinary circumstance that is outside the airline’s actual control,” SAS information manager Morten Johansen told flysmart24. However, an April 2018 decision by the EU Court of Justice ruled that a strike by flight staff “does not constitute an “extraordinary circumstance”, meaning that the pilots’ strike does not release the airline from its obligation to pay compensation.” In that decision, the court said future compensation claims spurred by airline strikes would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Roughly 70 percent of SAS flights are affected by the pilots’ strike, resulting in the cancelation of most domestic flights operating in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, as well as other long-haul and European flights. According to the SAS Pilot Group, over 1,400 pilots walked out last Friday, including 372 in Denmark, 545 in Norway and 492 in Sweden. The disruption has come about as a result of unsuccessful negotiations regarding a collective bargaining agreement over salary increases, working hours and scheduling. Scandinavian media has reported that the pilots’ requests included a 13 percent salary increase and more advanced notice of their work shifts to enable them to better plan their lives beyond work.
