SAS demands half a billion kronor compensation

Airline company SAS is demanding half a billion kronor ($75 million) in compensation from plane manufacturer Bombardier following a spate of recent incidents involving the Canadian firm's Dash planes.

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According to SAS, recent problems with the aircraft have cost the airline 10 to 15 million kronor per day and led to a drop in productivity worth 300 million kronor.

Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen, CEO Mats Jansson said that SAS had also been damaged by having its flight security called into question.

Two near accidents involving Dash 8-Q400 planes - in Aalborg on September 9th and in Vilnius three days later - led to SAS grounding its entire fleet of Dash aircraft. SAS has subsequently carried out rigorous checks on its fleet, replacing damaged parts on a number of planes.

On Thursday many of the Dash planes will begin flying again, although SAS estimates that it will take ten to twelve days before all planes are deemed airworthy.

Pending the resumption of full service, SAS has announced the cancellation of a number of departures from Kastrup airport in Copenhagen, with 63 flights affected on Thursday and 47 on Friday.