OSLO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and its Norwegian pilots reached a new three-year wage agreement Thursday to avoid a massive strike that had threatened to cause further disruptions in Norway's air traffic.
"SAS has now reached an agreement with the Norwegian pilots' unions and the strike has therefore been called off," the airline said in a statement posted on its website.
SAS, the flag carrier of Sweden, Norway and Denmark, on Wednesday canceled about 100 flights for Thursday as a precaution against a possible massive strike by its Norwegian pilots.
Domestic traffic in Norway was hardest hit by the company's preparations and service will be resumed as soon as possible, the company said.
More than 10,000 passengers are affected by the disruptions, according to Norway's public broadcaster NRK.
After negotiations between two Norwegian pilot unions and SAS failed over the weekend, the unions said Monday that only two pilots went on strike, but their members would start a massive strike on Thursday unless a deal was reached.
The two Norwegian pilot unions, SNF and NSF, met Wednesday evening with SAS management and the country's work conflict mediator Nils Dalseide to try to find a solution to the conflict.
Meanwhile, flights operated with Danish and Swedish pilots and those operated by SAS' partners would not be affected by the possible strike, the company said.
The airline has signed new three-year contracts with the pilot unions in Sweden and Denmark in recent weeks.
