Sweden’s SAS Link adds first E195

SAS Link (Copenhagen Kastrup) has secured its first E195, SE-RSK (msn 19000120), as it prepares to launch regional jet operations on behalf of its parent, SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK, Copenhagen Kastrup).

The 14.2-year-old aircraft is owned by Falko Regional Aircraft and was recently seen at Norwich wearing SAS’s full livery and with a Swedish registration, although it has yet to be formally inducted into the Swedish aircraft register or ferried to Scandinavia (despite the repainting, it remains registered as G-FBEG). The jet was last operated by flybe. (2002) (BE, Exeter) from initial delivery until the airline’s collapse in March 2020.

SAS announced plans to add an unspecified but small number of E195s for its new unit, SAS Link, in September 2021. ch-aviation understands that SAS initially signed for six aircraft of the type. The aircraft will operate under the parent’s code as an interim solution, pending a future order for new-generation mid-size aircraft to fill the gap between wet-leased regional jets and in-house narrowbodies. However, SAS has never provided any details concerning the number of E195s to be added or the timeline for a planned larger order.

SAS Link is scheduled to begin operations in the first quarter of 2022. While it will operate under its parent brand and without independent sales, it will obtain its own air operator’s certificate, a SAS spokeswoman confirmed to ch-aviation.

The carrier’s restructuring has also established another new brand, SAS Connect, which uses the AOC of SAS Scandinavian Airlines Ireland (SL, London Heathrow) and operates A320-200Ns. All flights previously operated by SAS Ireland have started showing as operated by SAS Connect in reservation systems as of last week.