Nearly 500 SAS flight attendants in Norway are preparing to walk out this weekend after rejecting a proposed pay deal, raising the prospect of disruption across the airline’s Scandinavian network during the peak summer travel season.
Hundreds of SAS cabin crew are set to begin strike action on Saturday, August 8, unless last-minute negotiations produce a breakthrough in a growing dispute over pay and working conditions.
Around 468 Norwegian-based flight attendants, represented by the Fellesforbundet union, voted to reject a proposed wage agreement, arguing that cabin crew salaries have failed to keep pace with wage growth in Norway despite the airline’s improving financial performance.
The union has warned that industrial action will begin unless a revised agreement can be reached before the deadline, while a second cabin crew union, Parat, has also rejected the deal and could announce strike action involving its members at short notice.
SAS said it was disappointed by the outcome of the vote but remains committed to finding a solution.
“We are naturally disappointed that Fellesforbundet’s members have voted no to the mediation proposal,” the airline said in a statement. “We are now preparing for continued negotiations with the aim of reaching an agreement that is acceptable to both parties.”
The airline has not yet confirmed how many flights could ultimately be affected, but any strike involving Norwegian cabin crew could disrupt services across the SAS network, including flights to and from the UK.
The dispute comes at a pivotal time for SAS. Less than two years ago, the airline emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following a major financial restructuring that saw Air France-KLM become a strategic shareholder. Since then, the carrier has returned to profitability and has been working to rebuild its network and strengthen its position in the Scandinavian market.
Union representatives argue that while the airline’s fortunes have improved, cabin crew pay has not kept pace.
If the strike goes ahead, it will be the second time in two years that Norwegian SAS cabin crew have taken industrial action. A previous walkout in August 2024 lasted four days before both sides reached an agreement. In December 2025, London Heathrow-based SAS cabin crew carried out a four-day strike, also over pay and conditions. The dispute was successfully resolved in January 2026 when workers secured a pay victory and scheduling adjustments through Unite the Union.
Passengers travelling with SAS over the coming days are being advised to monitor their booking regularly in case negotiations fail and flights are affected.
Although there is still time for an agreement to be reached, the dispute follows closely on the heels of the recent WestJet cabin crew strike in Canada, underlining how pay, working conditions and crew welfare continue to dominate industrial relations across the airline industry.
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