Air Transport

Spanair pilots threaten strike after criticising cost-saving plan

By David Kaminski-Morrow

Pilots at SAS Group carrier Spanair are threatening to strike after accusing the company's management of failing to put together a solid business plan for the struggling Spanish airline.

SAS Group failed to sell Spanair after potential investors lost interest in bidding for the Palma de Mallorca-based operator, which turned in heavy losses for the first half of this year.

The carrier has embarked on an initiative which will reduce capacity by a quarter and could involve shedding over 1,000 personnel.

But Spanish pilots union SEPLA says the company is wallowing in "organised chaos" and believes the management is failing to mitigate the "structural weakness" of Spanair.

It claims that the new initiative is "vague", containing "only a plan for immediate cost-savings" with "nothing for the company's future". SEPLA adds that the pilots will take steps to arrange a lawful strike.

The union criticises Spanair's corporate structure, claims the carrier has no control over expenditure, and says aspects such as investment in the fleet have not materialised.

Spanair could not immediately be reached for comment.