Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is expanding its partnership with Delta Air Lines, introducing a variety of new transatlantic flight options. This collaboration targets travel between Scandinavia and North America.
Starting 2 April 2025, SAS and Delta, both SkyTeam alliance members, will roll out an enhanced codeshare agreement.
This deal brings more destinations and flight frequencies to customers. It targets travel between Scandinavia and North America.
Copenhagen Airport, SAS’ main global hub, will see a significant boost in U.S.-bound flights. During the summer season, SAS will offer 21 weekly flights to New York and 10 to Minneapolis from Copenhagen.
Meanwhile, Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport will increase its New York departures by 20 flights per week. These additions make planning trips across the Atlantic simpler and more flexible.
Paul Verhagen, SAS Chief Commercial Officer, was upbeat about the expansion. “We’re thrilled to strengthen our bond with Delta. This step forward gives our customers more travel options than ever before. It also highlights our dedication to top-notch service and effortless global connections.”
The increased flight options, paired with streamlined booking and rewards, promise a better experience for passengers.
Virgin Atlantic Warns of Transatlantic Travel Dip
The announcement of SAS and Delta Air Lines expanding their partnership comes at an intriguing time for the transatlantic travel market. This week, Virgin Atlantic raised concerns about a noticeable slowdown in demand for flights from the U.S. to the UK.
This warning, shared during the airline’s 2024 financial results presentation on 31 March, highlighted a dip in U.S.-originated leisure travel, particularly for spring bookings.
Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Financial Officer, Oli Byers, noted that this softening demand could signal broader challenges ahead, even as the airline celebrated its first profitable year since 2016.
SAS Delta Proactive Push
In contrast, SAS and Delta’s expanded codeshare agreement, set to begin April 2, 2025, reflects a proactive push to strengthen their foothold in the transatlantic corridor.
It sees increasing flight options including 21 weekly departures from Copenhagen to New York and 20 additional weekly flights from Stockholm’s Arlanda to New York.
By so doing, SAS aims to capture a larger share of the market. This move suggests confidence in sustained or recoverable demand, particularly for travel between Scandinavia and North America.
The partnership also enhances convenience with single-ticket bookings and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, potentially appealing to travelers despite Virgin Atlantic’s cautionary outlook.
Optimism Offset by Caution
Virgin Atlantic’s alert, however, casts a shadow of uncertainty. The airline pointed to economic factors and shifting consumer confidence in the U.S. as possible drivers of the downturn.
This could affect not just leisure travelers but also the business and premium segments that SAS and Delta are banking on.
SAS Chief Commercial Officer Paul Verhagen emphasized seamless global connectivity and excellent service. However, the timing of Virgin Atlantic’s warning raises questions about whether this expansion will face headwinds.
For now, SAS and Delta are betting on growth and traveler loyalty to counter any emerging softness in the market. This makes their strategy a bold counterpoint to the ripples of concern spreading from their SkyTeam partner.
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