Tag Archives: Scandinavian Airlines-SAS

SAS to open a new route to Luxembourg

SAS has made this announcement:

From early November, SAS will fly a new route from Stockholm (Arlanda) to Luxembourg. The route will operate three times a week with departures on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. SAS is the only airline that offers a direct connection between Stockholm and one of the leading business destinations in Europe.

The new route from Stockholm Arlanda to Luxembourg will start on November 4, 2019.

The new route between Stockholm Arlanda and Luxembourg will be flown with 90-seat Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.

In winter 2019/2020, SAS will also open new routes from Copenhagen to Turin, Italy, and a connection from Oslo to Kyiv in Ukraine. This winter, SAS will fly to 110 destinations from Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Many of these routes will be flown with the new Airbus A320neo, the most environment friendly aircraft on the market.

Photo: SAS.

Timetable for Arlanda – Luxembourg

Monday ARN-LUX 08.05-10.20 LUX-ARN 11.00-13.15
Wednesday & Friday ARN-LUX 10.55-13.10 LUX-ARN 13.50-16.05

Top Copyright Photo: Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (CityJet) Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) EI-FPW (msn 15443) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 945318.

SAS-CityJet aircraft slide show:

airBaltic to start codeshare flights with SAS

airBaltic has concluded a cooperation agreement, known as a codeshare agreement, with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). The airBaltic and SAS partnership will offer convenient connections between Latvia, Scandinavia and beyond.

airBaltic will put its code BT on flights connecting Riga and Alesund, Bergen, Stavanger, Tromso, Trondheim via such common gateways as Oslo and Copenhagen airport. SAS will place its flight code SK on direct flights from Stockholm Arlanda, Copenhagen and Oslo airports and vice versa, ensuring transportation between Scandinavian capitals and Riga, as well as connecting traffic from SAS’s whole network and Riga via its three hubs.

airBaltic serves over 70 destinations from Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius, offering the largest variety of destinations and convenient connections via Riga to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, the CIS and the Middle East. In summer season 2019, airBaltic has launched new destinations from Riga to Dublin, Stuttgart and Lviv as well as to Kos and Menorca.

SAS reaches agreement with its pilots unions

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS has made this announcement:

Negotiations between SAS and SPF (Svensk Pilotförening), NSF/NF (Norsk Flygerforbund*), SNF (SAS Norge Pilotforening*) and DPF (Dansk Pilotforening*) are now concluded. The parties have agreed on new collective bargaining agreements and all flights in Denmark, Norway and Sweden will be resumed as soon as possible.

Following the pilot strike, that started on Friday April 26, 2019 the parties in all countries have now reached three-year agreements and the strike has been called off. The pilots will resume their work and traffic is expected to normalize over the next few days.

The agreements between SAS and the pilots’ unions concern predictability of scheduling, job security and salaries. In addition, the previously canceled agreements concerning collaboration and career paths have been reintroduced.

It is too early to provide an estimate of the financial effects, but after six days of pilot strike approximately 360,000 passengers have been affected by 4,015 canceled flights, while SAS’ other employees have worked around the clock to help our customers.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to all those SAS employees who have worked day and night to help our customers in this difficult situation”, Rickard Gustafson concludes.

Traffic disruptions will continue during the following days while normal traffic is resumed.

*) Formal approval subject to member vote.

Top Copyright Photo: Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A330-343 LN-RKT (msn 1697) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 946391.

SAS aircraft slide show:

SAS announces it expects additional traffic disruptions due to pilot strike, cancels more flights

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS has made this announcement:

We deeply regret that our customers are being affected by the ongoing pilot strike that has led to delays and cancellations. As a result of the ongoing conflict, SAS will cancel additional departures on Wednesday.

In total, about 47 000 travelers will be affected when SAS cancels 504 departures across Scandinavia on Wednesday 1 May. See the table below for information about all canceled departures. In the meantime, we’re doing everything we can to help our travelers affected by the strike. SAS is striving to reach a solution as quickly as possible to prevent additional inconveniences for travelers. Negotiations between SAS and the pilots’ unions have not yet resumed.

“I am deeply concerned that the pilot strike hasn’t been resolved and that it is continuing to affect our customers. The consequences are serious for all travelers, for society and also for all our employees who are working around the clock to help everyone. The demands made by the pilots’ unions entail significant cost increases for SAS that would threaten the company’s long-term competitiveness and consequently, the jobs of all SAS’ employees. SAS has clearly stated that we are prepared to continue negotiating and find a solution. The unions have not yet indicated that they are ready to release their ultimate demands and return to the negotiating table, which means that we remain in a deadlock”, says Rickard Gustafson, President & CEO of SAS.

Flights operated by SAS’ partners will not be affected by the strike. Travelers concerned that the strike could impact their travel plans may rebook or cancel their tickets free of charge until 5 May. More detailed information about rebooking and cancellation rules can be found on SAS’ website at https://www.flysas.com/en/traffic-information/disruptions/

Date	Canceled departures	No. of passengers
Friday April 26	673	72 300
Saturday April 27	329	33 912
Sunday April 28	587	63 360
Monday April 29	667	60 813
Tuesday April 30	546	48 949
Wednesday May 1	504	47 583

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A320-251N WL SE-ROE (msn 7791) AYT (Ton Jochems). Image: 943747.

SAS aircraft slide show:

Pilot strike at SAS expands as the pilot unions in Denmark and Norway also strike, 673 flights cancelled today

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS has issued this statement:

Members of the Swedish pilot union (Svensk Pilotförening, SPF) in SAS Scandinavia have been called out on strike. As a consequence of the strike, domestic, European and long-haul flights have been canceled, and thousands of travelers will be affected. Flights operated by SAS Ireland and airlines that are subcontractors of SAS will not be affected by the strike.

The strike follows SPF’s rejection of the mediator proposals for agreements. Negotiations have been held since March with the support of external mediators in the final stages. SAS wishes to continue negotiations and reach an agreement to end the strike as soon as possible. Negotiations are still ongoing in Denmark and Norway.

All members of the Swedish pilot unions have been called out on strike which means that many domestic, European and long-haul flights have been canceled. The strike does not include flights operated by SAS partners, which make up approximately 30% of all departures.

The strike follows lack of success in reaching an agreement between the parties. Negotiations have been held in all three countries since March and with the support of external mediators in the final stages. SAS wishes to continue negotiations and reach an agreement to end the strike as soon as possible.

“It is deeply regretful that the pilots strike will have a negative impact on our customers. SAS is prepared to continue to negotiate, but if the requirements were to be met, they would have very negative consequences for the company. Nonetheless, the pilot associations have chosen conflict. Our first priority now is to take care of our passengers and at this moment in time, all SAS employees are doing everything they can to help customers affected,” says Karin Nyman, Director of Communications at SAS.

All members of the pilot unions have been called out on strike which means that most domestic, European and all long-haul flights have been canceled. The strike does not include flights operated by SAS partners, which make up approximately 30% of all departures.
Customers who have a flight booked, are advised to check if their flight is impacted by the strike at www.flysas.com/en/disruptions.

On Friday, April 26, 673 flights will be canceled affecting over 72,000 passengers.

SAS will send updates via SMS and email to those passengers affected. There is a dedicated page for all information concerning traffic disruptions: www.flysas.com/en/disruptions, which will be updated continuously. Everyone who has a flight booked is advised to check the status of their flight on the website before going to the airport as flight status information is frequently updated.

TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS DUE TO PILOT STRIKE IN DENMARK, NORWAY AND SWEDEN

We’re sorry if you’ve been affected by the ongoing pilot strike that has led to delays and canceled flights.

We’re doing everything we can to help everyone.

Flights operated by SAS’ partners will not be affected by the strike.

SAS is striving to reach a solution as quickly as possible to prevent additional inconveniences for travelers.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A320-251N WL SE-ROA (msn 7602) (Netflix – The Rain) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 943990.

SAS aircraft slide show:

SAS’ pilot unions in three countries to strike the company on April 26

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS has made this announcement:

SAS IS OFFERING VOLUNTARY REBOOKING FREE OF CHARGE, FOR THOSE PASSENGERS WHO ARE BEING WORRIED ABOUT THEIR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS BEING AFFECTED BY A POSSIBLE PILOT STRIKE STARTING ON 26APRIL19.

The offer is valid for SAS operated flights. Flights operated by our partners are not affected by a possible strike and are not subject for voluntary rebooking free of charge.

As always, SAS has a strong ambition to reach new collective bargaining agreements thus avoiding conflict.

We are offering our customers to voluntary change their reservation free of charge on My Bookings, even if the flight hasn’t yet been affected or canceled as long as the following criteria are met:

· Your flight is with SAS

· Flight is not cancelled

· The departure date of your flight are between 26-29 April 2019

· Your ticket number starts with 117

· Your ticket is issued on/before 24 April 2019

· The ticket is purchased on SAS web, SAS App or SAS Call Center.

· If you booked via a travel agent or a tour operator, please contact them directly.

You can rebook to a SAS flight on another date to the same destination if the same service class as the original ticket is available. The new date of travel may not be later than 23-25 April 2019 or 06 May until 30 September 2019.

Please note that you cannot rebook your trip online if you are travelling with an infant, ordered a special meal, are travelling as an unaccompanied minor, have requested transportation of a wheelchair or pet.

SAS will not reimburse travelers for costs such as, but not limited to, accommodations, meals or surface or air transport related for voluntary rebookings.

Did you book your ticket via a travel agent or a tour operator? Please contact your travel agent to rebook your flight.

The pilot unions in Denmark, Norway and Sweden have given notice of a conflict with SAS. The notification of strike includes all pilots who are members of SPF (Svensk pilotförening), NSF/NF (Norsk Flygerforbund), SNF (SAS Norge Pilotförening) and DPF (Dansk Pilotforening). The earliest possible start date for a potential strike is April 26th.

For general information about your options regarding delayed or cancelled flights, Delayed or cancelled flights

SAS to launch a new seasonal Brussels – Tromsø route

Scandinavian Airlines – SAS has made this announcement:

SAS will operate a Boeing 737 on the route on Saturdays from January to March. The winter period is seen as a particularly attractive time to visit Northern Norway, so SAS has reached agreements with numerous companies in the tourism sector to attract tourists to the “Paris of the North”, Tromsø.

“Northern Norway, with Tromsø as the jewel in the crown, is attracting more and more attention internationally for its stunning scenery and exotic environment, so in response SAS is improving its services further to meet demand,” says Karl Sandlund, EVP Commercial, SAS.

SAS is working with various companies, including tour operator Nordic in Belgium, in conjunction with this initiative, which is very relevant to the tourist market in the BeNeLux countries.

During the year, SAS brings several thousand tourists from Asia and USA to the region, and through this direct link, SAS is further improving connections to and from Europe. SAS is also finding that the direct routes from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Tromsø are popular traffic arteries for people flying from destinations across the Star Alliance network.

SAS expects to fly almost 100,000 passengers between Tromsø and Europe during the winter program, which extends from November 2019 to March 2020.

SAS operates a three-class system on its flights within Europe, SAS Go Light; SAS Go, which also includes a 23kg checked bag, newspapers, coffee and tea on board, and SAS Plus which offers additional premium benefits including complimentary lounges, Fast Travel security, premium check-in, complimentary food and drink and an additional piece of 23kg luggage and fully flexible tickets.

SAS operates a modern fleet, aiming to always offer the most sustainable way of flying, with the airline aiming to reduce emissions by 25% by 2030. Additional sustainable actions include SAS carbon offsetting all travel for its EuroBonus travelers, as well as those traveling on a SAS Youth Ticket, with a simple and quick option offered to all passengers who also wish to carbon offset their journey.

Note: SAS is increasing noting its involvement in carbon offsetting as “flying shame” increases in Sweden. Bloomberg details the decline in travel in Sweden with an article.

Top Copyright Photo: SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) Boeing 737-86N WL LN-RGI (msn 35646) (Celebrating 70 Years) ARN (Stefan Sjogren). Image: 939105.

SAS aircraft slide show:

SAS to launch a new direct route to Beirut from Stockholm

SAS has made this announcement:

At the end of June, SAS will begin to fly from Stockholm to Beirut twice a week. The route will initially be operated on Wednesdays and Sundays and then from mid-August on Wednesdays and Saturdays until September 7, 2019. SAS already flies to the Lebanese capital from Copenhagen during the summer months.

The new route, which launches on June 30, establishes an even better connection between Scandinavia and one of the world’s oldest cities, which boasts a wide range of experiences: well-preserved castles, historic churches and mosques, beautiful beaches and the world-famous Lebanese cuisine.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A320-251N WL SE-ROP (msn 8350) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 945341.

SAS aircraft slide show:

SAS to offset the flight carbon footprint of EuroBonus members

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS has issued this statement:

Effective February 1, 2019, SAS is going to offset the flight carbon footprint of all tickets booked using a EuroBonus number.

This is part of an ambitious program by SAS to reduce climate changing emissions, that also includes more energy efficient aircraft and the increased use of biofuels.

By including carbon offset for its EuroBonus program members, 40 percent of SAS’ passenger-related carbon dioxide emissions will be offset. SAS already offsets all youth tickets and its own business travel within the company. EuroBonus is the most popular loyalty travel and experiences program in Scandinavia with 5.6 million members.

“Our most loyal customers and frequent flyers share our wish for more sustainable travel. Our customers who fly to, from and within Scandinavia should be aware that SAS strives to reduce our carbon footprint on a daily basis,” says Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO, SAS.

SAS contribution to offsetting emissions is based on statistics and will be calculated by Natural Capital Partners, and that helps its clients with emission reducing mechanisms in different projects.

“Carbon dioxide compensation is one of several environment and sustainability initiatives being pursued by SAS and is something we now do as we have done all we can to reduce our climate impact with the aid of current technology,” says Lars Andersen Resare, Head of Sustainability at SAS.

During the year, SAS will make it even easier for customers to reduce their carbon footprint by offering opportunities to upgrade to biofuel when purchasing tickets. SAS has set a target of reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent by the year 2030, when SAS intends to use biofuel corresponding to total fuel consumption for all SAS domestic flights within Scandinavia.

SAS expands its fleet – leases three Airbus A321 Long Range aircraft

SAS has signed a leasing agreement with ALC (Air Lease Corporation) which means SAS will expand its aircraft fleet with three Airbus A321LR. This gives SAS an opportunity to offer travelers more intercontinental routes, fewer stopovers and shorter travel times to and from Scandinavia. The first aircraft will enter into service in the first half of 2020.

The aircraft type Airbus A321LR is a narrow-body specially configured to fly longer distances than a standard A321neo. The aircraft has sufficient range to reach Northeast US, one of the most important intercontinental markets for SAS. The A321LR can also reach destinations in Canada, the Middle East and India from Scandinavia.

“This is an entirely new aircraft type for SAS that is incredibly well suited to the Scandinavian market and our travel patterns. We are looking forward to launching new routes and to evaluate the A321LR in production,” says Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO, SAS.

SAS current flies wide-body aircraft that seat up to 266 passengers on its intercontinental routes. The A321LR is a smaller aircraft, which gives SAS the opportunity to fill the aircraft on new routes. For example, these can be new destinations on smaller markets or existing destinations from smaller airports. SAS currently flies intercontinental services from the three Scandinavian capital cities.

The aircraft is part of the latest generation of aircraft and is expected to reduce climate impacting emissions by a similar amount as when SAS introduced the A320neo. The carbon footprint of the latter is approximately 15-18 % smaller than an equivalent size aircraft of the previous generation.

“Climate is a crucial issue for the airline industry and SAS aims to lead the way in driving the switch to sustainable travel. We have set a target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent by 2030,” Gustafson says.

SAS is now in the process of deciding on the first routes and cabin configuration of the aircraft. The new routes will gradually be communicated from spring 2019. The first A321LR will enter into service in the first half of 2020.

Image: SAS.