It's official: Scandinavian Airlines will become a full-fledged SkyTeam member Sept. 1.
09.04.2024 - 20:25 / skift.com / Gordon Smith / Airlines
Late last year, SAS said it would leave the Star Alliance group of airlines – but it didn’t say exactly when or how.
Things are now much clearer. Yesterday it was confirmed that August 31 will be the Scandinavian carrier’s last day in the club. The announcement marks the first time one of the organization’s five founding members has left the alliance since it was established in 1997.
With a potential knock-on impact for United and Delta passengers traveling to Europe and beyond, we answer some of the big questions:
Given that SAS is the flag carrier for Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a near-certain moneymaker. Au contraire. Despite serving some of the wealthiest countries in Europe, the airline found itself in deep financial trouble.
This ultimately resulted in a major corporate restructuring that saw Air France-KLM – a cornerstone of rival alliance SkyTeam – snapping up a shareholding in the Scandinavian company.
While the Franco-Dutch firm holds just a 19.9% equity stake (at least for now), the mood music has shifted considerably. Along with organizational changes, the airline is defecting from the Star Alliance to better align with its new partners.
Speaking to Skift last year, Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith described the SAS deal as “a low-risk way of participating in consolidation.”
SAS has been in financial trouble for some time. In July 2022, it started a court-supervised process in the United States by voluntarily filing for Chapter 11. This is a legal pathway conducted under the supervision of the U.S. federal courts. It has been used by many big airlines over the years to reduce costs and undertake major financial restructuring.
Speaking to Skift last year, SAS CEO Anko Van der Werff described the “many reasons why we ended up in Chapter 11.”
Yes, SAS will remain in Star Alliance until August 31, but it’s all change from September 1. From this date, SAS says customers will start enjoying benefits “with most SkyTeam airlines.”
There are 19 carriers in SkyTeam which serve more than 1,060 global destinations. Alongside Air France-KLM, major operators include Delta Air Lines, Korean Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Saudia, and China Eastern. This means that frequent fliers with these airlines will have new opportunities to earn and redeem loyalty points. For a full list of members check out this SkyTeam Skift explainer.
Yes. SAS describes its aim as creating “a smooth transition.” All current benefits of Star Alliance, including ‘earning and burning’ of points will remain until August 31.
From the start of September, members of SAS’ existing EuroBonus loyalty program will receive benefits “similar to those offered today with Star Alliance airlines.” The airline
It's official: Scandinavian Airlines will become a full-fledged SkyTeam member Sept. 1.
Airline delays and cancelations are frustrating enough, but having to spend time fighting with the airline to get compensation or getting stuck with an airline voucher you’ll never use makes the situation even worse. Fortunately, that’s all about to change—the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) just announced a new policy that requires airlines to automatically issue cash refunds to passengers when flights are canceled or significantly delayed.
There's nothing that gets a traveler's heart racing like the impeding doom of missing a connecting flight. We've all been there: wildly sprinting through the airport terminal, hoping against hope that the boarding door hasn’t closed yet. Then, the worst feeling of them all: finding the door closed shut but the plane still there—and you're not allowed on it.
For well over a year, my organization, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), has tried to thwart American Airlines’ abusive attempt to force AA fliers and travel agencies to use its underdeveloped technology, the New Distribution Capability (NDC) booking platform.
Strikes are a regular occurrence in Europe, as employees withhold their labour to fight for better pay and conditions.
United Airlines is in its generous era, with a deal offering 13% off flights just in time for superstar Taylor Swift's return to the United States.
Imagine my horror when I woke up early one Tuesday morning to find several emails from American Airlines AAdvantage and Rocket Rental Car Awards confirming my successful redemption of hundreds of thousands of AAdvantage miles for several car rentals set to begin later that day.
Strikes are a regular occurrence in Europe, as employees withhold their labour to fight for better pay and conditions.
Flying business class can be a real treat. And with Emirates, the experience is unparalleled, featuring exceptional service, comfortable seats and top tier in-flight food and beverage. Generally considered one of the best airlines to fly overseas, Emirates offers top tier business class, comparable with (or better than) first class on countless other airlines. A winner of several travel and service awards, Emirates offers outstanding business class, from pre-boarding to de-planing. Here’s what you need to know before booking a seat.
A handful of new lounges opened by credit card issuers, including Capital One and American Express, have recently landed in airports across the United States, promising posh spots of refuge for select travelers awaiting their flights. At La Guardia Airport, caviar service will be available for pre-order. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, travelers can get complimentary massages, and at Denver International Airport, there are nap pods. In addition to amenities, the new lounges provide an ambience reminiscent of a luxury hotel lobby, both in interior design and scale, and fit several hundred people at a time.
Scandinavian Airlines has firmed up the timeline for its departure from the Star Alliance.
If you ask Rich Cahill to define sustainable tourism, he'll tell you about the wilderness next to the Panama Canal where you can find ocelots, howler monkeys, and three-toed sloths. It's about explaining to visitors that nature is both fragile and resilient — a contradiction that's on full display in these lush Central American rainforests.