http://avisen.dk/slv-er-farligt-flyv...8--120907.aspx
http://e24.no/kommentar/boerskomment...cle2036929.ece
http://www.finansnyheder.dk/news/sho...toryid=9621384
http://pub.tv2.no/dyn-nettavisen/pri...jsp?id=1428857
Read the articles, all talking about Dash-8 Q-400's but refering to them as
Q800's. The Scandinavian people refer to these aircraft as Q800's since the incidents (even is that is the wrong name, I have mentionned it on purpose...)
Anyway here's the article in English:
STOCKHOLM, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Scandinavian airline SAS (SAS.ST:
Quote,
Profile,
Research) said on Thursday it plans to cut 230 jobs in its Swedish business, partly due to the grounding of its Dash 8 Q400 fleet after three of the aircraft crash-landed.
"This relates to SAS Sweden," SAS spokesman Bertil Ternert told Reuters. "They have identified excess staffing of 230 persons, both cabin crew and pilots."
The airline said its decision to give notice to the 230 employees was linked to the withdrawal from service of its 27 Dash 8 Q400 aircraft in a move it has estimated will cost it 600 million to 700 million crowns ($95 million to $111 million) this year.
Three Dash 8 Q400 turboprop planes, built by Canada's Bombardier (BBDb.TO:
Quote,
Profile,
Research), crash-landed in the last two months. No one was hurt in the crashes.
"The chief reason is that we are not flying the Dash 8 Q400 anymore," SAS Sweden spokesman Mikael Lindberg said. "But we had already identified some excess personnel on cabin staff side."
"Now we will sit down with the unions and the ambition is that we be able to handle this and avoid layoffs.
"But it's too early to say what solutions we could find to avoid having to lay people off," he added, suggesting discussions would address prospects of seeking positions elsewhere in the group for affected employees.
One thing I would like to add: SAS has been reluctant to speak to the press about cutting flightcrew jobs and one obvious reason is that that would be very bad publicity for their big flight school. Obviously, SAS is going to make that happen as silently as possible, and try to find solutions with other airlines (such as Flybe) for their pilots.
Sorry but retraining crew to fly on dry-leased 180 pax MD-80's to operate routes where they operated 75 pax Q400's is just a big joke. Certainly when you consider that they are looking at replacement for the MD-80's they already have, starting from the end of 2008/beginning of 2009.