Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is making significant changes and venturing into a new major U.S. market. The airline will begin flights between its Copenhagen Airport hub in Denmark and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. This move marks a new chapter for SAS, as it recently went through bankruptcy proceedings and shifted its alliance from Star Alliance to SkyTeam.
Starting this summer, SAS will offer daily flights between Copenhagen and Atlanta. The new route will operate throughout the summer months and will deepen SAS’s partnerships with airlines like Delta Air Lines. SAS flyers will be able to book seamless connections to Delta flights through an interline agreement.
The flights between Copenhagen and Atlanta will be operated by an Airbus A330 aircraft during the summer months and an Airbus A350 during the winter months. The eastbound flights from Atlanta to Copenhagen will depart at around 7 p.m. EST and land the next day at approximately 10:20 a.m. local time. Westbound flights will depart Copenhagen just after 1 p.m. and land in Atlanta around 5 p.m.
In addition to the new Atlanta route, SAS is also increasing frequencies to other cities. The airline will offer up to two daily round trips between Copenhagen and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. SAS already flies to the New York area, serving Newark Liberty International Airport, Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Oslo Airport, and Copenhagen. SAS also plans to shift from six weekly frequencies to daily service between Copenhagen and Boston Logan International Airport during the summer months.
Currently, SAS serves eight U.S. airports and one in Canada. However, the airline plans to end its service to Miami International Airport in early April. The addition of the Atlanta route is significant because it allows SAS to expand its offerings to Delta’s hub city.
SAS’s move to SkyTeam alliance is still under discussion with both the Star Alliance and SkyTeam. This shift will allow SAS to strengthen its partnership with Air France, KLM, and other SkyTeam carriers. Passengers will have more options to reach new destinations across the Southern USA, Caribbean, and Latin America.
Overall, SAS’s venture into the Atlanta market signifies a new chapter for the airline. With its bankruptcy proceedings behind it and new minority owners, SAS is positioning itself for growth and enhanced partnerships with other airlines. The new route to Atlanta and the increased frequencies to other cities demonstrate SAS’s commitment to expanding its presence in the U.S. market and providing more options for travelers.