RPT-SAS says reaches deal with unions, to save $182 mln

STOCKHOLM, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Scandinavian airline SAS (SAS.ST) said on Wednesday it had reached a deal with labour unions on new collective agreements that it sees yielding savings of around 1.5 billion Swedish crowns ($182 million).

"The new agreements entail a cost reduction in relation to collective agreements in the SAS Group of approximately 12 percent, of which about one third is related to salaries and two thirds is linked to working hours, per diem expenses, pensions and insurance," SAS said in a statement.

SAS, half of which is owned by Sweden, Norway and Denmark, said its pilots, chief executive and other members of the group's management would refrain from salary increases in 2009 and salaries would also be reduced by 6 percent.