SAS, unions fail to find agreement; talks to resume Friday

SAS and pilot unions failed again on Thursday to agree on a deal to end a crippling strike that the airline said threatened its ability to access bridge financing without which it may be forced to radically downsize or could collapse. SAS and the unions were locked in talks throughout Thursday to end a strike among most of its pilots at the peak of the holiday travel season, over conditions related to the Scandinavian carrier's rescue plan. They abandoned talks shortly after midnight Friday, as the strike entered its 12th day, with talks to resume later on Friday. "There are a number of issues that are important for both parties that must be resolved in order to reach an agreement," mediator Mats Ruland told E24.<br/>