SAS revamps long-haul cabins with new seats and Wi-Fi

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has unveiled a major overhaul of the cabins products on its long-haul flights, including the installation of Wi-Fi on all aircraft.

Seven of the carrier’s Airbus A330 and A340s will receive cabin upgrades, with new seats in all classes, on-demand in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems and Wi-Fi access.

The first upgraded aircraft is expected to go into service in early 2015, with the majority of the SAS long-haul fleet featuring the new interiors within 12 months. The airline’s eight new Airbus A350 aircraft, which will be delivered from 2018 onwards, will also have the new cabins.

“SAS customers will enjoy a totally new travel experience in our upgraded cabins. The new interior is designed to meet the needs of frequent flyers and substantially enhances our customer offer,” said Rickard Gustafson, president & CEO of SAS.

In economy class, the new seats will have a pitch of 31 or 32 inches (79-81cm) and come equipped with nine-inch HD IFE screens, power outlets and USB ports. The premium economy cabin will offer the same amenities but with a 37-38-inch pitch and 12-inch IFE screen, while the business class cabin will offer full flat-bed seats that stretch out to 196cm, plus 15-inch IFE screens. All business class seats will offer direct aisle access.

SAS currently flies long-haul to New York, Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo and, from August 2014, Houston.

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Airline SAS trims outlook for year, blames weak yield in Q2

Airline SAS trimmed it forecast for the full year on Thursday, blaming competition in its home Scandinavian markets for pushing down yields.

SAS said rival airlines had shifted capacity to Scandinavia in the last six months and that meant that unit revenues had developed weaker than expected during the second quarter.

SAS said that if conditions don't worsen "the potential exists to post a positive EBT, including the positive effect from the amendments to pension reporting, also in the 2013/2014 fiscal year," the airline said in a statement.

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SAS flight evacuated at Gardermoen

Passengers who had just boarded a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight at Oslo’s main airport at Gardermoen had to jump onto its evacuation slides Tuesday morning after the cockpit and cabin started filling with smoke.

The flight, which was bound for Brussels, was evacuated just before 8:30am. ”It’s a flight that had boarded from Gate 10,” Joachim Westher Andersen of Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen (OSL) told VG. The jetway out to the flight was pulled back, the aircraft was towed away from the terminal and all 163 passengers on board were ordered to evacuate. Slides were used both in the fore and aft portions of the aircraft.

A passenger on board the flight, Tarjei Rødset, told VG that smoke started filling the cockpit when the motors were started. The smoke quickly seeped into the main cabin as well.

“It had a sour gas smell that burned in the throat,” Rødset told VG. He said there was no panic on board the flight and passengers evacuated in a relatively calm manner. “The doors were opened and the evacuation slides came out,” he said.

An SAS spokesman said the flight involved was SK 4743 bound for Brussels. Passengers and crew were bussed away from the aircraft, which was quickly surrounded by emergency vehicles, reported Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK).

Andersen told TV2 that passengers and crew were assembled for a debriefing and orientation of what happened, and how their disrupted travel plans would be addressed. He said the evacuation followed standard procedures and there were no injuries.

He later told NRK that the SAS passengers were offered a new flight to Brussels later in the morning. The source of the smoke and what caused it hadn’t been determined. The incident did not disrupt traffic at the airport and Andersen said there were no other flight delays related to it.

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Scandinavian Airlines announce new Edinburgh/Norway flights

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is to launch two new service from Edinburgh to Norway this summer. A new service connecting Edinburgh with Norwegian Capital, Oslo has now launched, with a further direct flight service between Edinburgh and Stavanger due to start on April 24. Both routes will be twice weekly services, operating on Thursdays and Sundays until October 5. Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive at Edinburgh Airport, said “We’re delighted to welcome the first of two routes to Norway launching this month.

“Norway is an important tourism and business link for Scotland and we’re pleased to be working with SAS in developing our good relationship.

“These services to Oslo and Stavanger will give Scots the chance to visit this beautiful country and allow Norwegian passengers the opportunity to experience all that Edinburgh and Scotland have to offer in 2014”.

Hans Dyhrfort, SAS’ regional general manager for Western Europe, added: “We are pleased to offer new summer services direct to both Oslo and Stavanger and provide direct flights to Norway, the fjords and Scandinavia.

“We expect the new routes to appeal to both leisure and business travellers, with the flights well timed for long weekend breaks to Oslo, famed for its vibrant bar and café culture, world class museums and lively nightlife, situated between Norway’s stunning fjords and forest.

“For the business traveller, we offer the convenience of direct flights to Oslo and Stavanger, as well as the option to connect with onward flights to many other Scandinavian destinations.”

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SAS launches services between Stavanger and Houston

SAS is launching services between Stavanger and Houston on August 20. This fulfils the wishes of leading players in the oil industry for better connections between Norway, and the rest of Scandinavia, and Houston, Texas. 

"The route we have established is a tailored product for a defined market with particular travel needs," says Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO of SAS. 

The route will be operated by a business version of the Boeing 737-700 and will have an SAS Long Haul Business Class concept on board, with just 44 comfortable business seats, along with a modern inflight entertainment system and full-service meals and service.

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SAS launches advance seat reservation on short haul flights

SAS now offers all its customers with SAS Go tickets to European destinations the opportunity to choose their seat when they book their flight. SAS is focusing on making life easier for travelers, and as one of several new products and services now being launched, you can now pre-reserve your seat on routes between Scandinavia and Europe. 

This option has previously only been available on long haul routes, but is

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