SAS Ireland SAIL
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 0
From: Up north
SAS will probably move CRJ-900 operation under Irish OAC , since CITYJET has proven to be totally an flying club with slave deals to employees..
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: .
This whole operation doesn't seem to have been given any proper thought, it seems more like 'well Norwegian have an Irish AOC, so we should do the same'... I struggle to see how there are any cost savings to be had operating from LHR, one of the most expensive and slot constrained airports in Europe.
As was rightly pointed out, the current deals on offer for SAS new hires, both pilots and cabin crew, are a far cry of what was once on offer, and are substantially below what is on offer at Norwegian, and we're talking SAS Scandinavia here. People based in LHR will not work for peanuts either, let alone leave secure employment elsewhere An organisation like SAS seems to be simply incapable of becoming a profitable entity in its current structure, and is being very naive thinking that an Irish AOC and basing staff outside of Scandinavia will be a solution to all their woes.
For those that don't remember, there are several such failed ventures in the history of SAS, whether we're now talking about Snowflake, for those that remember: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake_(airline) or Blue1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue1 or Spanair https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanair , and I wouldn't be surprised if SAS Ireland might meet a similar fate once the beancounters realise that there are no savings to be had, drawing the same conclusion as with the other projects.
I would tread carefully...
As was rightly pointed out, the current deals on offer for SAS new hires, both pilots and cabin crew, are a far cry of what was once on offer, and are substantially below what is on offer at Norwegian, and we're talking SAS Scandinavia here. People based in LHR will not work for peanuts either, let alone leave secure employment elsewhere An organisation like SAS seems to be simply incapable of becoming a profitable entity in its current structure, and is being very naive thinking that an Irish AOC and basing staff outside of Scandinavia will be a solution to all their woes.
For those that don't remember, there are several such failed ventures in the history of SAS, whether we're now talking about Snowflake, for those that remember: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake_(airline) or Blue1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue1 or Spanair https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanair , and I wouldn't be surprised if SAS Ireland might meet a similar fate once the beancounters realise that there are no savings to be had, drawing the same conclusion as with the other projects.
I would tread carefully...
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Europe
Fully agree. The Scandinavian Ireland venture is nothing more than something cooked up by senior management to hold against the pilots in Scandinavia. "Reduce your cost... or else"
The pilot cost in SAS is less than 6% of the total cost base. Given the number of pilots that will retire over the next 10 years, being replaced by new hires at a lower cost, that number will decrease substantially without any influence from SAIL. The current T&C's in SAS is well below most competitors, Ryanair being the exemption, and the only reason SAS are able to attract experienced pilots is the permanent employment with the airline, a seniority system in place with long haul possibilities and union representation.
The beancounters seem to think that the same pilots applying to SAS would also jump at any chance to join SAIL, regardless if all other carriers in the UK offer a better package.
The pilot cost in SAS is less than 6% of the total cost base. Given the number of pilots that will retire over the next 10 years, being replaced by new hires at a lower cost, that number will decrease substantially without any influence from SAIL. The current T&C's in SAS is well below most competitors, Ryanair being the exemption, and the only reason SAS are able to attract experienced pilots is the permanent employment with the airline, a seniority system in place with long haul possibilities and union representation.
The beancounters seem to think that the same pilots applying to SAS would also jump at any chance to join SAIL, regardless if all other carriers in the UK offer a better package.
