Norwegian Air and its pilots have reached an agreement on a new collective agreement, averting a strike that might have grounded numerous flights, the airline and labor union leaders announced on Saturday.
A strike would have been a setback for Norwegian, which is about to enter its most profitable period of the year.
“I am pleased that we have reached an agreement,” CEO Geir Karlsen stated. “All eyes are now on the busy summer season ahead and we look forward to welcoming our customers on board.”
According to the firm, some flights may still be cancelled this weekend as a result of preparations for a possible strike.
According to the Norwegian Pilot Union, which negotiated on their behalf, the agreement will help to close a salary disparity between Norwegian pilots and those in other countries.
It was not immediately known how much more the pilots would be paid.
The unions had stated that any strike might have progressively expanded to include all 690 pilots employed by the company’s Norwegian business, which accounts for more than half of the group’s 1,300 pilots.
Pilots employed by units outside of Norway, including Denmark and Spain, were unaffected.
The agreement will improve work-life balance by lessening the overall expectations placed on each pilot, according to the union.
Norwegian announced in April that it expects record profits this year because of strong demand during the peak summer season.
