13 votes

Scandinavian airline SAS announced that it has gone bankrupt a day after 1,000 pilots walked out on strike

8 comments

  1. [6]
    NoblePath
    Link
    Why are they filing in U.S. Court? Unrelated, FTA: Read, we don't want to pay reasonable wages?

    Why are they filing in U.S. Court?

    Unrelated, FTA:

    After widespread job losses linked to COVID-19, airlines and airports are struggling to recruit new staff in many countries.

    Read, we don't want to pay reasonable wages?

    6 votes
    1. [5]
      mycketforvirrad
      Link Parent
      Found this in the SAS press release regarding the bankruptcy: Source

      Why are they filing in U.S. Court?

      Found this in the SAS press release regarding the bankruptcy:

      Chapter 11 is a well-established and flexible legal framework for restructuring businesses with operations in multiple jurisdictions, and has been used by a number of large international airlines to restructure.

      Source

      5 votes
      1. [4]
        nacho
        Link Parent
        Chapter 11 isn't really declaring bankruptcy at all though, is it? Chapter 11 generally provides for reorganization with protection from creditors to keep a business alive to avoid bankruptcy, no?...

        Chapter 11 isn't really declaring bankruptcy at all though, is it?

        Chapter 11 generally provides for reorganization with protection from creditors to keep a business alive to avoid bankruptcy, no? It's basically a way to get a court to accept that you don't pay creditors as previously agreed.

        This was surely on the cards before the pilots' strike, but has probably been moved forward as a result of it. That's my guess and I wouldn't be surprised if someone high up in SAS would confirm it, or have already.

        3 votes
        1. nukeman
          Link Parent
          It is, but it isn’t complete liquidation (that’s chapter 7).

          It is, but it isn’t complete liquidation (that’s chapter 7).

          4 votes
        2. Eric_the_Cerise
          Link Parent
          The original article titles captures the distinction well ... they didn't declare bankruptcy, but rather, filed for bankruptcy protection.

          The original article titles captures the distinction well ... they didn't declare bankruptcy, but rather, filed for bankruptcy protection.

          3 votes
        3. skybrian
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          My basic understanding (which will be wrong in some details) is that it usually means that stockholders lose everything and creditors own the business now, according to a complicated settlement...

          My basic understanding (which will be wrong in some details) is that it usually means that stockholders lose everything and creditors own the business now, according to a complicated settlement decided by a judge.

          The idea is that the remaining business is worth something, so if it keeps running (perhaps in a reduced but more profitable way) then the creditors can get some of their money back by selling what's left of it, perhaps to new shareholders.

          Chapter 7 is for when the remaining business isn't worth operating.

          From a labor relations point of view, management is saying "we give up. You'll have to negotiate with new management." Which I guess is the judge, for now? What do labor negotiations look like under bankruptcy protection?

          3 votes
  2. Adys
    Link
    Holy shit. I don't even know what else to say.

    Holy shit. I don't even know what else to say.

    4 votes
  3. Eric_the_Cerise
    Link
    It may be common here, but as an American, it is really weird, seeing national govts (Denmark, Sweden, Norway) talking about buying/selling, increasing/decreasing their holdings in SAS, like...

    It may be common here, but as an American, it is really weird, seeing national govts (Denmark, Sweden, Norway) talking about buying/selling, increasing/decreasing their holdings in SAS, like regular shareholders.

    2 votes