SAS Expands Operations and Introduces New Routes After Joining SkyTeam

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) celebrated its recent membership in the SkyTeam alliance with a media event in Copenhagen, Denmark. During the event, the airline outlined its plans for growth following its exit from restructuring procedures and its formal transition to the Air France-KLM and SkyTeam networks.

A significant part of SAS’s growth strategy will focus on Copenhagen, where the Danish government remains a key shareholder after the airline’s reorganization. The carrier is set to launch 15 new routes from Copenhagen Airport (CPH) in the summer season of 2025. These routes will connect Copenhagen to various cities across Europe, including Krakow, Madrid, Budapest, Lyon, Valencia, Malta, Bucharest, Milan Linate, Seville, Turku, Kristiansand, Harstad/Narvik, and Bodø. Additionally, SAS will reinstate its domestic route to Billund (BLL) on Denmark’s Jutland peninsula.

A highlight of the announcements was SAS’s plan to reintroduce a nonstop service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). This marks the return of SAS to Seattle, a route the airline previously operated before its cancellation in 2009. Alongside this new service, SAS will increase flight frequencies on 15 existing routes from Copenhagen, while maintaining its current flight schedules from its other hubs in Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) and Stockholm-Arlanda (ARN).

Furthermore, SAS will introduce a seasonal route between Oslo and New York’s JFK Airport during the summer season. This expansion aligns with CEO Anko van der Werff’s remarks during the 2024 IATA AGM, where he stated that SAS aims to concentrate hub activities in Copenhagen while exploring long-haul opportunities from other Scandinavian airports.

In Sweden, SAS has entered a long-term partnership with regional carrier BRA, which will operate several domestic routes and feeder services into Copenhagen under a wet-lease arrangement. This collaboration is designed to enhance connectivity for SAS’s customers in Sweden.

At the Copenhagen event, SAS Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Paul Verhagen announced plans to introduce a dedicated business class on its European network. Currently, SAS offers two service classes on short-haul flights: SAS Go and SAS Plus, the latter being an enhanced economy product. The new premium offering will incorporate features traditionally associated with business class, including the option of an empty middle seat. SAS will also rebrand its service classes to Business, Premium Economy, and Economy, aligning with the naming conventions of its SkyTeam partners.

Additionally, the airline showcased newly designed uniforms for its cabin and ground crew, marking a fresh visual identity for SAS in the wake of its SkyTeam membership.

SkyTeam CEO Patrick Roux attended the event, emphasizing the strategic importance of SAS’s integration into the alliance. The partnership is expected to enhance SAS’s competitive position in the market, offering customers improved connectivity and service options across a broader network.

As SAS embarks on this new chapter, the airline is poised to strengthen its operations and elevate the travel experience for its passengers.