July 13 (Reuters) – Loss-making airline SAS (SAS.ST) said on Tuesday that it would increase flights on some Scandinavian routes due to strong demand.
SAS was badly hit by the global downturn and has had to slash costs and raise cash via a rights issue. But the airline was upbeat about its home markets
“Apart from the fact that we have planes which are record full, we also see a positive development in our Scandinavian network…,” SAS commercial chief Robin Kamark said in a statement.
“SAS will raise the number of depatures in the autumn within Scandinavia due to strong demand,” the company added. The new flights would come on the Stockholm-Copenhagen and Stockholm-Oslo routes. (Reporting by Patrick Lannin)
Airline strike fails to halt BA
British Airways cabin crew have moved into day two of their strike in protest against job cuts and changes to work practices.
But the airline says many of its passengers have still been able to fly.
BA says it is the biggest contingency plan it has ever launched – leasing planes from other airlines to keep two-thirds of its passengers flying.
BA says it has got off to a good start at Heathrow and Gatwick, but the union Unite claims some planes are starting to “stack up” on the ground as a result of the strike.
It has accused BA of wanting to “go to war” after talks broke down.
British prime minister Gordon Brown has condemned the strike, saying it is in no-one’s interest.
Given railway signal workers also plan to strike in coming weeks, political commentators say the action could damage Labour ahead of the election that is tipped for May 6.