SAS's Irish subsidiary SAS Ireland (SAIL) has used hired personnel for flights during September despite the fact that almost all Swedish pilots at SAS are laid off, according to documents seen by Svenska Dagbladet.

This concerns 23 flights on routes where SAS has previously used Swedish pilots, 18 of which concern the Stockholm–Frankfurt route.

”"We fly 380 flights a day. You're talking about 18 during September. That's very little in percentage terms," SAS press manager Freja Annamatz tells SvD.

Wilhelm Tersmeden, chairman of the company's Swedish pilot union, reacts to the information.

”"SAS pilots are becoming unemployed and the state is paying layoff support to SAS at the same time that we are being replaced by cheaper foreign pilots who do not pay taxes in Sweden.".

Source: TT