Scandinavian Airlines files for bankruptcy protection
US filing follows failed talks to end pilots’ strike and adds to air-travel disruptions during peak European summer
05 July 2022 - 11:37
byAnna Ringstrom and Stine Jacobsen
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SAS Airbusaircraft on the tarmac in Kastrup Airport in Copenhagen, Denmark, on July 4 2022. Picture: TT NEWS AGENCY/JOHAN NILSSON VIA REUTERS
Stockholm — Scandinavian airline SAS has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US to help accelerate restructuring plans, it said on Tuesday, warning that strike action by pilots had affected its financial position and liquidity.
Wage talks between SAS and its pilots collapsed on Monday, triggering a strike that adds to travel chaos across Europe as the peak summer holiday period begins.
That accelerated the airline’s decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US, CEO Anko van der Werff said on Tuesday.
The company said in a statement it would continue to serve its customers throughout the bankruptcy process, though the pilot strike is affecting its flight schedule. The filing with a US federal court would to accelerate a restructuring plan announced in February, it added.
“Through this process, SAS aims to reach agreements with key stakeholders, restructure the company’s debt obligations, reconfigure its aircraft fleet, and emerge with a significant capital injection,” SAS said.
The airline said it expects to complete the Chapter 11 process in nine to 12 months. SAS shares fell as much as 6% after the filing was announced, and were trading 2% lower at 7.28am GMT.
During the pandemic, other non-US airlines including Avianca, Aeromexico and Philippine Airlines have used the Chapter 11 process to renegotiate contracts with suppliers such as aircraft lessors while continuing to operate.
Rival Norwegian Air emerged from bankruptcy protection involving courts in Dublin and Oslo last year.
“It doesn’t mean anything for the normal operations. They are trying to repair the motor while driving,” Sydbank analyst Jacob Pedersen said of the SAS filing. “This is happening because SAS hasn’t been able to accomplish the changes through negotiations.”
SAS needs to attract new investors and has said that to do so it must slash costs, including for staff and for leased planes that stand idle because of closed Russian airspace and a slow recovery in Asia.
The airline said on Tuesday its assessment was that its cash balance of 7.8bn kronor ($756m) was sufficient to meet its business obligations in the near term.
SAS said discussions with lenders regarding another $700m of financing to support its operations during the restructuring were “well advanced”.
It added however that the strike “has a negative impact on the liquidity and financial position of the company and, if prolonged, such impact could become material”.
Nordnet analyst Per Hansen said SAS’s application showed it needs a fresh start and that it thinks the strike will drag on.
“Chapter 11 protection comes early,” he said. “Management and the board want to make it absolutely clear for all stakeholders that the situation is very serious.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Scandinavian Airlines files for bankruptcy protection
US filing follows failed talks to end pilots’ strike and adds to air-travel disruptions during peak European summer
Stockholm — Scandinavian airline SAS has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US to help accelerate restructuring plans, it said on Tuesday, warning that strike action by pilots had affected its financial position and liquidity.
Wage talks between SAS and its pilots collapsed on Monday, triggering a strike that adds to travel chaos across Europe as the peak summer holiday period begins.
That accelerated the airline’s decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US, CEO Anko van der Werff said on Tuesday.
The company said in a statement it would continue to serve its customers throughout the bankruptcy process, though the pilot strike is affecting its flight schedule. The filing with a US federal court would to accelerate a restructuring plan announced in February, it added.
“Through this process, SAS aims to reach agreements with key stakeholders, restructure the company’s debt obligations, reconfigure its aircraft fleet, and emerge with a significant capital injection,” SAS said.
The airline said it expects to complete the Chapter 11 process in nine to 12 months. SAS shares fell as much as 6% after the filing was announced, and were trading 2% lower at 7.28am GMT.
During the pandemic, other non-US airlines including Avianca, Aeromexico and Philippine Airlines have used the Chapter 11 process to renegotiate contracts with suppliers such as aircraft lessors while continuing to operate.
Rival Norwegian Air emerged from bankruptcy protection involving courts in Dublin and Oslo last year.
“It doesn’t mean anything for the normal operations. They are trying to repair the motor while driving,” Sydbank analyst Jacob Pedersen said of the SAS filing. “This is happening because SAS hasn’t been able to accomplish the changes through negotiations.”
SAS needs to attract new investors and has said that to do so it must slash costs, including for staff and for leased planes that stand idle because of closed Russian airspace and a slow recovery in Asia.
The airline said on Tuesday its assessment was that its cash balance of 7.8bn kronor ($756m) was sufficient to meet its business obligations in the near term.
SAS said discussions with lenders regarding another $700m of financing to support its operations during the restructuring were “well advanced”.
It added however that the strike “has a negative impact on the liquidity and financial position of the company and, if prolonged, such impact could become material”.
Nordnet analyst Per Hansen said SAS’s application showed it needs a fresh start and that it thinks the strike will drag on.
“Chapter 11 protection comes early,” he said. “Management and the board want to make it absolutely clear for all stakeholders that the situation is very serious.”
Reuters
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