Mamma
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2005
- Posts
- 2,802
It must be rather tense over there...
SAS laying off oldest pilots
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), faced with needed cost-cutting and
conflicts in their cockpits, has decided to lay off 50 of its most
senior pilots. SAS has recently been caught in conflict, yet again.
The layoffs will come in conjunction with SAS' decision to withdraw 18
aircraft from service during the winter months. Another 40 veteran
pilots will be laid off during 2009.
SAS spokesman Claus Sonberg told website takeoff.dk on Monday that the
airline had reached agreement with the pilots' union on the looming
layoffs. "We have agreed that the layoffs will affect those who would
soon be retiring regardless, instead of the young pilots," Sonberg said.
That may bring an end, if bitter, to an ongoing conflict between new
and veteran pilots within their own labour organization. Pilots over
age 60 who have chosen to keep working, despite union guidelines that
they retire, have complained that they’ve been bullied by their
younger colleagues.
Civil aviation authorities worried that the bullying was affecting
flight safety. SAS disagreed, but is obliged to address the
authorities' concerns.
Last week came news that SAS planned to lay off 110 pilots. Those with
the most seniority usually are the last to go, but now SAS is
radically altering traditional practice.
SAS laying off oldest pilots
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), faced with needed cost-cutting and
conflicts in their cockpits, has decided to lay off 50 of its most
senior pilots. SAS has recently been caught in conflict, yet again.
The layoffs will come in conjunction with SAS' decision to withdraw 18
aircraft from service during the winter months. Another 40 veteran
pilots will be laid off during 2009.
SAS spokesman Claus Sonberg told website takeoff.dk on Monday that the
airline had reached agreement with the pilots' union on the looming
layoffs. "We have agreed that the layoffs will affect those who would
soon be retiring regardless, instead of the young pilots," Sonberg said.
That may bring an end, if bitter, to an ongoing conflict between new
and veteran pilots within their own labour organization. Pilots over
age 60 who have chosen to keep working, despite union guidelines that
they retire, have complained that they’ve been bullied by their
younger colleagues.
Civil aviation authorities worried that the bullying was affecting
flight safety. SAS disagreed, but is obliged to address the
authorities' concerns.
Last week came news that SAS planned to lay off 110 pilots. Those with
the most seniority usually are the last to go, but now SAS is
radically altering traditional practice.