Efter den seneste tids hændelser med flytypen Dash 8 Q400 har ledelsen i SAS, efter et ekstraindkaldt bestyrelsesmøde i dag taget beslutningen om, at al trafik med denne flytype ophører.
"Tilliden til Q400 er mindsket betydeligt og vores kunder bliver mere og mere usikre overfor at flyve med flytypen. Derfor har jeg med bestyrelsens godkendelse taget en beslutning om umiddelbart, at tage Dash 8/Q400 ud af drift," siger SAS koncernchef Mats Jansson.
SAS tog som første kunde Dash 8 Q400 i trafik i januar 2000. Flytypen har transporteret cirka fem procent af koncernens passagerer. Målet er at erstatte Q400-trafikken gennem omdisponering af eksisterende flytyper i SAS-koncernen samt ved hjælp fra partnere.
"Dash 8 Q400 har haft gentagende kvalitetsproblemer, og vi kan konstatere, at flytypen ikke imødekommer kundernes krav med hensyn til punktlighed og regularitet. SAS flyafvikling har altid haft et godt omdømme, og der findes en risiko for, at Dash 8/Q400 på sigt kan skade SAS' varemærke," siger John Dueholm, vicekoncernchef i SAS.
SAS-trafikken kommer til at være påvirket af aflyste fly i den nærmeste tid som en effekt af beslutningen. Berørte passagerer får en mulighed for at lave deres reservation om eller få refunderet billetten. For detaljerede trafik informationer henvises til www.sas.dk.
SAS Group Corporate Communications
SAS removes Dash 8 Q400 from service permanently
Following the recent period of events involving aircraft of the Dash 8 Q400 type, SAS's management, following an unscheduled meeting of the Board of Directors held today, has decided to immediately discontinue the use of this type of aircraft.
"Confidence in the Q400 has diminished considerably and our customers are becoming increasingly doubtful about flying in this type of aircraft. Accordingly, with the Board of Directors' approval, I have decided to immediately remove Dash 8 Q400 aircraft from service," says Mats Jansson, President and Chief Executive Officer of SAS.
In January 2000, SAS was the first customer to use the Dash 8 Q400 in its traffic operations. The aircraft have accounted for approximately 5 percent of the Group's passengers. The aim is to replace traffic based on the Q400 by reallocating current aircraft in the SAS Group's fleet and by means of leasing.
"The Dash 8 Q400 has given rise to repeated quality-related problems and we can now conclude that the aircraft does not match our passengers' requirements concerning punctuality and regularity. SAS's flight operations have always enjoyed an excellent reputation and there is a risk that use of the Dash 8 Q400 could eventually damage the SAS brand," says John Dueholm, Deputy CEO of SAS.
Due to the decision, SAS's traffic services will be affected by flight cancellations in the period immediately ahead. The customers concerned will be given an opportunity to either rebook or have their tickets refunded. For detailed information about traffic services, reference is made to www.sas.dk
SAS Group Corporate Communication