What does SAS pay a new first officer?

SAS sets out starting pay for first officers in four categories based on type rating and flying hours, with figures in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish kroner. For a pilot with no relevant type rating and fewer than 1500 hours, the band is DKK 37,915 to 39,863, NOK 40,852 to 42,952 or SEK 38,621 to 40,610, at steps 0 to 1. With a relevant type rating and over 1500 hours, it is DKK 41,434 to 44,342, NOK 44,653 to 47,782 or SEK 42,219 to 45,175, at steps 2 to 3. The two middle categories share a band of SEK 40,420 to 43,165. SAS says the figures are gross, before tax, and adds that a daily allowance depending on the length of duty and the destination comes on top. The table does not state a pay period. Only the A320 or Embraer 195 counts as a relevant type rating.1

What do direct entry captains start on?

For a direct entry captain joining the A320 fleet at Copenhagen or Stockholm, SAS lists a monthly starting salary of DKK 75,493 or SEK 74,772 with a 100% contract, and DKK 62,861 or SEK 62,285 with an 83.3% contract. The 83.3% option follows a seasonal pattern, with 100% rostering in summer and December and 50 to 75% during the rest of the year. For direct entry captains on the Embraer E195, SAS lists a starting salary of DKK 67,774, NOK 72,895 or SEK 69,744 per month, depending on base. In both vacancies SAS adds that pay is set by the collective agreements and is not open to individual negotiation.23

What else comes with the job?

SAS pays for the training required after employment, with a training bond of 36 months. A pilot in a 100% position gets 42 calendar days of annual leave a year. The A320 captain vacancy also lists additional allowances, a pension scheme, insurance benefits, a minimum of 11 days off per month and worldwide staff travel. New first officers fly a variable or flexible roster, published monthly on the 16th of the previous month. Bases for first officers are Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo and Bergen, on the A320 or Embraer 195LR. You must hold a Scandinavian EASA licence (Norway, Sweden or Denmark) before your first day of employment or training.124

What about SAS Connect in London?

SAS Crew Services Ltd. recruits captains for the SAS Connect A320neo fleet at London Heathrow on a fixed 5 on, 4 off pattern with 28 days of annual leave. The package includes allowances for block hours flown, overnights and other duty related payments, but the vacancy gives no salary figure. Salary levels there are also fixed by collective agreements.5

How do SAS pilots progress?

SAS describes a path from first officer to captain, with seniority recognised across SAS Group from the date of hire. Captains can move into roles such as Line Training Captain, Type Rating Instructor, Type Rating Examiner or Chief Pilot, and can fly long haul on the A330 and A350.16

What did the 2022 strike change?

On 19 July 2022, SAS reached agreements with the four SAS Scandinavia pilot unions, SPF, NSF/NF, SNF and DPF, ending a 15 day strike with new 5.5 year collective agreements. SAS committed to rehire 450 pilots as flying ramped up until 2024. According to the Danish pilots' association, quoted by Altinget, pilots took a 25 percent pay cut and maximum working time rose from 47 to 60 hours a week. The news agency dpa reported a 5% pay cut and longer hours in the peak summer season. Reuters reported that SAS expected savings of about $200 million through 2026 from the pilot deals, and that pilots said they had agreed to large pay cuts.78910