Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has struck a deal with pilots' unions to enable it to fly its Boeing 737-600 fleet under regional jet operating rules until the carrier acquires sub-100-seat jets.
As part of its review of future profitability, SAS has identified a requirement for 10 regional jets to be used on thinner point-to-point routes, but has had to withdraw from a joint Star Alliance acquisition due to lack of financing options, it says. In the interim, the airline has secured a "tentative agreement" with pilots to operate part of its fleet of 30 111-seat 737-600s, which will be redesignated as regional jets in flightcrew scope clauses. Sören Belin, SAS executive vice-president and chief operating officer, describes the new deal as being "two-tiered", with an unspecified deadline by which time regional jets need to enter service. The airline is finalising which routes would qualify under the agreement and Belin says a similar agreement with cabin crew is being negotiated.
SAS has also considered placing any future regional jets into the SAS Commuter portfolio, although this option is now unlikely, says Belin.
Source: Flight International
