SAS Expands Transatlantic Reach with New Copenhagen to Atlanta Route
SAS Scandinavian Airlines, a prominent Star Alliance member, is set to introduce a new transatlantic route connecting Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, with Atlanta, a major hub for the SkyTeam alliance. This strategic move will expand SAS’s North American network and enhance passenger connectivity to key destinations in the United States.
Starting from June 17, SAS will operate daily flights between Copenhagen Airport (CPH) and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. During the summer months, Airbus A330-300 aircraft will service this route, providing passengers with a comfortable and convenient travel experience. As the winter season approaches, flight frequencies will reduce to 5X-weekly, with A350-900s taking over the operations.
Atlanta, being a primary hub for Delta Air Lines, will become the ninth North American destination served by SAS. The airline’s existing North American routes include flights to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington.
This strategic route expansion represents SAS’s initial step in reconfiguring its network as it prepares to transition from the Star Alliance to SkyTeam. SAS announced its proposed new ownership structure in October, which will involve leaving the Star Alliance, a group it co-founded in 1997, following an agreement with a consortium led by Air France-KLM to purchase a stake in the airline.
SAS President and CEO Anko van der Werff emphasized the benefits of this expansion, stating, “Through an agreement with Delta Air Lines, passengers can continue their journey on other Delta-served destinations out of Atlanta. This development means an expanded offering for SAS passengers, who can look forward to reaching several new and exciting destinations across the southern U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America, all conveniently accessible from Atlanta.”
SAS has been undergoing a restructuring plan called “SAS Forward” that extends until 2026, which included filing for U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2022. In October, a consortium comprising Air France-KLM and investment firms Castlelake and Lind Invest was selected as the winning bidder for SAS’s exit financing solicitation process.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, the Copenhagen to Atlanta route is currently unserved nonstop. Delta Air Lines had previously operated scheduled service between the two cities for five years, starting in May 2006. However, U.S. Transportation Department data shows that the city pair has been without nonstop service since August 2011.
In addition to the new Atlanta route, SAS has plans to increase flight frequencies from Copenhagen to Boston Logan International Airport, New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Toronto Pearson International Airport during the summer season.
Furthermore, SAS will be launching nine new European routes, including leisure destinations in Italy, Montenegro, and Spain, as part of its expansion efforts. However, it’s worth noting that the airline does not have scheduled Airbus A321LR routes to JFK from Aalborg, Denmark, and Gothenburg, Sweden, for the summer 2024 season, following previous summer service in 2023.