SAS strengthens network with Virgin Atlantic codeshare deal
October 4, 2024
Virgin Atlantic and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) to launch codeshare agreement that will boost connectivity to and from Scandinavian hubs.
The codeshare partnership is set to launch the week commencing 7 October and will open up five new destinations across Scandinavia, including Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen.
The deal will enable passengers travelling on Virgin Atlantic flights from the US and Canada will benefit from seamless onward connections with SAS via London Heathrow and Manchester to Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stavanger and Bergen. Meanwhile SAS customers will benefit from Virgin Atlantic’s long-haul network from the UK to destinations across the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
Expressing his delight at SAS’s expanded global reach , Paul Vergaen, CCO at SAS, said that customers will now benefit from even more travel options to exciting destinations, including Barbados, Jamaica and Antigua. “This collaboration provides EuroBonus members with expanded opportunities to earn and redeem points across Virgin Atlantic’s extensive network, strengthening the value of our loyalty programme.”
The Scandinavian operator, a flag carrier for Denmark, Norway and Sweden, has gone from strength to strength after exiting US bankruptcy proceedings in August. The company restructured debt of more than US$2 billion, adjusted its fleet and delisted stock to emerge from the Chapter 11 filing.
At the beginning of September, SAS joined SkyTeam, while the end of September saw SAS announce a codeshare agreement with American carrier, Delta, to improve connectivity for passengers travelling between North America and Scandinavia. The airline also shared earlier this month that it had agreed a wet lease partnership with Braathens Regional Airways (BRA) and as a result will be launching several key routes in Sweden in January 2025.
Virgin Atlantic’s CCO Juha Jarvinen, added his enthusiasm for the partnership saying, “We’re delighted to launch a codeshare with our SkyTeam partners at SAS, enhancing our connectivity and offering greater customer benefits to our frequent flyers. As a fellow APEX five-star airline, we look forward to strengthening our partnership with SAS.”
