This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7066377.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
SAS grounds planes in safety fear | SAS grounds planes in safety fear |
(1 day later) | |
Scandinavian airline SAS is permanently stopping flying Bombardier Q400 planes after several emergencies caused by landing gear problems. | |
The decision came after a plane carrying 44 people from Bergen, Norway, to Copenhagen made an emergency landing in Denmark on Saturday. | The decision came after a plane carrying 44 people from Bergen, Norway, to Copenhagen made an emergency landing in Denmark on Saturday. |
Nobody was seriously hurt in the incident, the third involving a Canadian-made Bombardier in two months. | |
The SAS board decided to "immediately discontinue" using the planes. | The SAS board decided to "immediately discontinue" using the planes. |
"Confidence in the Q400 has diminished considerably and our customers are becoming increasingly doubtful about flying in this type of aircraft," said chief executive Mats Jansson. | "Confidence in the Q400 has diminished considerably and our customers are becoming increasingly doubtful about flying in this type of aircraft," said chief executive Mats Jansson. |
And the airline's deputy chief executive, John Dueholm, said the plane had seen "repeated quality-related problems". | |
"SAS's flight operations have always enjoyed an excellent reputation and there is a risk that use of the Q400 could eventually damage the SAS brand," he said. | |
Lease replacements | Lease replacements |
The airline operates 27 of the planes which are used on many Nordic regional routes and for connections to destinations including the UK, Germany, Poland and Luxembourg. | |
SAS said that since it began using the planes in 2000, they had accounted for about 5% of all passengers carried. | SAS said that since it began using the planes in 2000, they had accounted for about 5% of all passengers carried. |
The carrier, which had already cancelled more than 40 flights on Sunday after the Copenhagen incident, said it was inevitable that there would now be more flights shelved. | The carrier, which had already cancelled more than 40 flights on Sunday after the Copenhagen incident, said it was inevitable that there would now be more flights shelved. |
It would look to fill the gap in schedules by reallocating planes in its current fleet and by leasing aircraft, it said. | It would look to fill the gap in schedules by reallocating planes in its current fleet and by leasing aircraft, it said. |
In September, Bombardier grounded almost half of its Q400 turboprop planes after equipment failures forced emergency landings of SAS planes in Denmark and Lithuania. | In September, Bombardier grounded almost half of its Q400 turboprop planes after equipment failures forced emergency landings of SAS planes in Denmark and Lithuania. |
At the time of the move, the Montreal-based company said that the groundings were a "precautionary measure", adding it believed its aircraft were "absolutely safe and reliable". | At the time of the move, the Montreal-based company said that the groundings were a "precautionary measure", adding it believed its aircraft were "absolutely safe and reliable". |
The Q400 turboprop - which carries between 68 and 78 passengers - has been in use since 2000, and more than 160 of the planes have been delivered around the world. | The Q400 turboprop - which carries between 68 and 78 passengers - has been in use since 2000, and more than 160 of the planes have been delivered around the world. |
In March, an All Nippon Airways Q400 plane carrying 56 passengers and four crew landed safely after its nose gear failed to descend. | In March, an All Nippon Airways Q400 plane carrying 56 passengers and four crew landed safely after its nose gear failed to descend. |