Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) will use a PrivatAir (Geneva) Boeing 737-700 (HB-JJA) for an additional new flight to Newark from Copenhagen. As a consequence, the carrier is dropping the relatively-new Stavanger – Houston (Bush Intercontinental) route.

The carrier issued this statement:

SAS is boosting its offer to Scandinavian frequent flyers with more than 60,000 seats between Copenhagen and the New York area in 2016. The additional evening departure will be operated by PrivatAir with a reconfigured Boeing 737-700 that has most recently flown the Stavanger-Houston route.

From the start of the SAS winter program in late October, SAS will fly twice daily to the New York area from Copenhagen to further reinforce its position as the number one Scandinavian carrier:

SAS is currently servicing Copenhagen-Newark with a daily midday departure. The new SAS flight will also depart daily – except Tuesdays – at 18.25 from Copenhagen and return from New ark at 22.55.

SAS will continue these double daily Newark flights next year and so offer more than 60,000 extra seats between the New York area and Copenhagen in 2016, which corresponds to approximately 25% increase.

Closure of oil route

As a consequence of reduced activity in the oil industry, SAS has experienced a severe decrease in demand and thus passenger loads on the Stavanger Houston route. Hence, SAS no longer has sound commercial grounds for continuing this niche route.

“The oil route came out of creative and constructive product development between SAS and our core clients in the oil industry. We have done all we can to make it viable, however, we have had to accept that the downturn in the industry unfortunately is also impacting us, hence our decision to switch the aircraft to Copenhagen-New York, where the market offers far more potential right now,” says Eivind Roald.

The last flight from Stavanger will depart on October 23 returning in Stavanger on October 24. SAS will do its utmost to make alternative arrangements for all customers who have flight bookings after these dates.

SAS will increase its capacity with approximately 20% from Stavanger to Copenhagen by switching aircraft type from Bombardier CRJ900 to Airbus A320 and A321 on several departures.

Product and timetable

The route is operated by PrivatAir on behalf of SAS with a Boeing 737 that up until the end of the year will be configured with Business seats only, 44 seats. The aircraft will then be reconfigured with 20 Business seats and 66 Go seats. The service will correspond to a full SAS inflight product to overseas destinations except with an iPad entertainment system.

Departures daily from Copenhagen (CPH) except Tuesdays at 18.25 arriving Newark (EWR) 21.35.

Departures daily from Newark (EWR) except Tuesdays at 22.55 arriving Copenhagen (CPH) 12.45 (next day).

Copyright Photo: AirlinersGallery.com. A SAS Boeing 737-783 taxies at London (Heathrow).

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