Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) has announced it has entered into a slot transaction with a major unnamed international air carrier that will take over one slot-pair at London Heathrow from SAS at the beginning of the summer traffic program on March 29, 2015.

The airline continued;

The transaction will generate a positive earnings impact of the equivalent of $60 million for SAS to be accounted for during the second quarter of the fiscal year 2014/2015 with a corresponding cash effect during the fiscal year 2014/2015.

SAS is the fifth largest airline operating at London Heathrow measured in number of departures and had before this transaction 21 daily slot-pairs at London Heathrow, which now will be reduced to 20 daily slot-pairs.

SAS operates from London Heathrow to Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Oslo, Stockholm and Stavanger. Even after the transaction, SAS will continue to offer a strong and comprehensive network between Scandinavia and London Heathrow. The intention is to keep the seat capacity to/from London Heathrow through the use of larger aircraft on remaining departures. Furthermore, SAS will consider the use of other airports in the London-region.

Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-883 LN-RPO (msn 30467) arrives in London at heathrow Airport.

SAS aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-3/Airlines-Europe3-QZ/Scandinavian-Airlines-SAS