After two summer holidays in a row with Norgesferie on most of us, many Norwegians have packed their suitcases before this year’s summer.
And with less and less focus on the corona, most people thought that the holiday abroad was not in danger at all.
But lately, there have been several challenging situations that could potentially threaten your vacation.
– HOLIDAYS ABROAD: This year, many Norwegians are finally going on holiday abroad after several years of pandemic. Photo: Nardus Engelbrecht
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1. Strike
Last week, the aircraft technicians went on strike, and this week the strike was stepped up further. The distance between the parties is reported to be very large, and a quick solution does not seem to lie on the stairs.
This is the SAS conflict
The core of the conflict is the creation of two staffing companies. When the pandemic hit, around 560 pilots lost their jobs. At the same time, the subsidiaries SAS Link and SAS Connect were established.
These will take over aircraft and be filled with new pilots. The SAS pilots say the company is trying to circumvent its obligations to bring the dismissed pilots back. SAS rejects this, and believes the company relates to all agreements entered into.
The pilots believe the structure breaks with the entire Scandinavian labor market model. Negotiations between SAS Pilot Group – which is an association of the pilot associations in the three countries – and SAS broke down at the end of March.
Source: NTB
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– I have never experienced such a deviating wage claim without the other party being able to justify it. It is completely inappropriate to meet that type of requirement, said Torbjørn Lothe, CEO of NHO Luftfart to TV 2 on Sunday.
As of Tuesday, 160 aircraft workers can also be taken out on strike. This applies, for example, to stevedores, drivers, cleaning staff and personnel related to loading.
In order to complete the strike solitaire, more than 800 SAS pilots have announced that they will go on strike from 29 June, if they do not agree with the management.
– STRIKE DANGER: From 29 June, more than 800 pilots can go on strike. It can have huge consequences for travelers. Photo: Kristian Myhre / TV 2
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– We hope that the pilot association will not strike, says press manager in SAS Tonje Bjerve Sund to TV 2.
Because there is little doubt that a potential SAS strike will have enormous consequences.
Up to 45,000 passengers a day can be affected.
– There will be a great deal of frustration among customers, and the long-term consequence and trust in the brand can suffer a serious setback. This puts pressure on both parties to come to a solution, says WinAir flight analyst Hans Jørgen Elnæs.
2. Airport chaos
Before the summer holidays for many have started in full, there has already been complete chaos at many European airports.
It is especially Schipol in Amsterdam that has stood out as the worst, but also at Arlanda in Stockholm and Heathrow, endless queues and cancellations have been reported.
– CHAOS: At Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, there are a lot of people. Photo: Hilde Gran / TV 2
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The reason for the chaos is mainly the lack of airport staff. During the pandemic, many airports chose to lay off personnel. It has thus taken time to get people back to work again, especially because the security clearance of such personnel takes time.
Norway has so far escaped a similar chaos as our European neighbors.
Heat wave in Europe
Europe is boiling, literally. With temperatures above 40 degrees, many big cities have experienced the consequences of the enormous heat.
– EXTREME HEAT: There are almost record high temperatures in Bilbao, Spain. Photo: Vincent West / NTB
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On Saturday, a heat record was set for June in the French capital Paris.
The extreme heat comes from North Africa and started in Spain and Portugal last week with temperatures well into the 30s. In Seville, in southern Spain, the temperature was up to 42 degrees, and rounded 43 degrees in the city of Andújar in the south-east of the country.
People are asked to stay as far away as possible from direct sunlight outdoors. Make sure that the temperature does not get too high indoors, but it is not as easy when the night temperature creeps above 26 degrees in some places.
– COOLING: A man cools down during the record-breaking heat wave in Paris. Photo: Stefano Rellandini / NTB
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4. Passkrise
It has long been known that there is a passport chaos in Norway. And if you have not received a passport yet, the holiday can hang in the balance.
Norwegian authorities have warned that the waiting time can be up to 10 weeks at worst. And although attempts have been made to reach an agreement with European countries that Norwegians can travel with expired passports, so far nothing has been put in place so far.
Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt tweeted on Thursday last week that they had entered into an agreement with Turkey which means that Norwegians who do not have a passport can use a national ID card.
– LONG WAITING TIME: If you are unlucky, the waiting time for a new passport can be up to ten weeks. Photo: Ingvild Gjerdsjø / TV 2
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However, this scheme has not yet been implemented by Turkey.
– From the Norwegian side, we are waiting for confirmation from Turkey that the formal processes there have been completed. The Norwegian authorities will then implement the scheme as soon as is practically possible, says spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Siri Svendsen to VGMonday.
5. Korona (yes, you read that right)
Although many of us thought we had finished corona for good, many European countries are now experiencing an increase in infection.
Although several of the most popular holiday destinations have removed their restrictions, the new BA.5 variant can still put sticks in the wheels for the holiday.
Assistant Director of Health Espen Nakstad believes the variant will be dominant throughout Europe this summer.
– INCREASING INFECTION: Corona infection is now increasing in several European countries. Photo: Erik Johansen / NTB
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– We have a poor overview of the extent of infection in Norway and Europe now, but we see in the admission figures that the infection has picked up a bit in June, Nakstad says to NTB.
When the experts try to learn more about the new variant, they look especially to Portugal, where BA.5 now accounts for more than 80 percent of cases.
The wave of infection is explained by the fact that the new variant has mutations that make it better escape the defenses the immune system has built up through vaccination and previous infection, especially if it has been a long time since you were vaccinated or were infected last.
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