SAS flight strike to hit Saturday

The airline has apologised to passengers for the disruption

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has warned that a strike by cabin crews will run into Saturday, forcing it to cancel more flights.

Between 100 and 150 flights in Sweden and Europe will be grounded on Saturday affecting some 10,000 people, SAS said.

It already has had to cancel about 300 flights on Friday after 800 unionised staff at its Swedish operation walked off the job in a dispute over pay.

The stoppage is likely to cost the firm about $3m (£1.5m; 2.2m euros) a day.

Industrial unrest

SAS said unions had rejected the firm's three-year pay offer, which it said was equal or superior to that enjoyed by staff at other airlines in Sweden.

No date has been set for further talks between the firm and union officials.

Anders Ehrling, SAS Sweden's chief executive, said that the future of SAS Sweden and the SAS group was at risk, as well as the working future of about 3,000 union members.

SAS has been plagued by industrial unrest in recent months and a strike by Danish staff last month resulted in the cancellation of 150 flights.

Intercontinental flights and services from Norway and Denmark are not affected by the latest stoppage, the company said.