Airline SAS is canceling a couple of hundred flights in March and at least 1,000 in April due to sharply increased fuel prices. The company cites a doubling of fuel costs in ten days amid the Middle East war. Norwegian pilot unions question the explanation, pointing to staffing issues.
Airline SAS announces cancellations of over 100 flights in March, mainly to and from Norway, and at least 1,000 in April. CEO Anko van der Werff tells Dagens industri: 'The price of aviation fuel has doubled in ten days. Even though we try to absorb cost increases as much as we can, this is a shock that hits the aviation industry directly.' SAS has introduced a temporary fuel surcharge, leading to higher ticket prices. Communications director Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji explains: 'We are consolidating capacity on departures where there are good alternative connections the same day... Affected customers are informed continuously via the contact details in the booking, and offered rebooking to other departures or refunds.' The measures target mainly destinations with many daily flights; SAS normally operates 800 flights per day or over 5,000 per week. Norwegian media report that the pilot union, chaired by Roger Klokset, claims staffing issues: 'It is remarkable that SAS is canceling so many flights due to fuel prices, while having staffing problems.' SAS denies any link to staffing and emphasizes the acute fuel situation. Norwegian will not cancel flights but will raise ticket prices, per communications director Charlotte Holmbergh.
