Scandinavian Airlines may keep on flying to Bangkok and Singapore according to Mikkel Nielsen of SAS’ corporate communications office in Copenhagen.
Mikkel Nielsen confirms that “it has been rumoured” that SAS would close its route to Bangkok/Singapore if the current negotiations between the management and the staff of the airline does not bring about the requested cuts in wages and other saving.
Mikkel Nielsen adds that he has sent out a correction via the national Danish news agency, Ritzau, and that the major newspapers Berlingske Tidende and Jyllands Posten had consequently rewritten and softened up their stories on the internet leaving the possibility open that the route may survive.
“Otherwise, I cannot comment on information given confidentially to the representatives of the cabin crew,” he says.
In a related news, Miklos Puskas, Country Manager Vietnam, yesterday informed the Scandinavian community in Vietnam in writing, that SAS plans to close the office in Hanoi on 1 April 2004.
“In the time leading up to 1 April, we will continue to seek a viable business partner, but if we are unable to secure a satisfactory solution, we will have no other choice but to close,” Miklos Puskas writes.
Vietnam is not the only country at risk. Also elsewhere in Asia SAS is reportedly trying to outsource its local operations to third parties who will handle the interests of the airline and run the offices as if they were fully fledged SAS offices.
