Scandinavian Airways, a distinguished airline in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, has formally introduced its departure from the Star Alliance. This is what we all know up to now.
I journey round Norway and throughout the Nordic area for work, and regularly journey to each the U.Ok. and Mexico to see household. As somebody who flies lots, I have been intently following the fortunes of SAS these final years.
Like many individuals, my response to the information that Air France-KLM would take a considerable stake in SAS was one in every of shock. That was instantly adopted by a curiosity about what would occur with EuroBonus frequent flyer program.
Now, whereas there’s nonetheless much more info to return, we all know a bit extra about what SAS will seem like after it leaves Star Alliance.
SAS Laving Star Alliance
This transfer, confirmed to take impact on 31 August, 2024, marks a big shift within the aviation panorama in Norway and past. SAS turns into the primary founding member to exit the Star Alliance since its inception in 1997.
An airline alliance is a partnership the place airways collaborate to increase their networks and enhance passenger companies.
This collaboration typically contains code-sharing, coordinated schedules, and shared loyalty applications, enabling travellers to get pleasure from broader flight choices, smoother connections, and enhanced advantages throughout member airways, thus making international journey extra seamless and rewarding.
Distinguished airways remaining in Star Alliance embody Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, Singapore Airways Swiss, Turkish Airways, and United.
All Change at SAS
The airline, grappling with monetary challenges regardless of working in a few of Europe’s most prosperous international locations, has undergone a complete company restructuring.
A serious step on this transformation is the acquisition of a 19.9% fairness stake by Air France-KLM, a key participant within the rival SkyTeam alliance.
This strategic partnership is poised to realign SAS’s alliance affiliations, shifting from Star Alliance to SkyTeam, in a bid to foster nearer ties with its new stakeholders and improve operational synergies.
A serious step within the historical past of SAS, the choice to go away Star Alliance is attributed to the airline’s urgent monetary predicament. This led to a voluntary Chapter 11 submitting in the USA in July 2022.
This authorized course of, aimed toward decreasing prices and restructuring financially, underscores the airline’s efforts to stabilise and revitalise its operations amidst difficult circumstances.
SAS in SkyTeam
Transitioning to SkyTeam from 1 September, SAS assures clients of a seamless shift, promising comparable advantages with SkyTeam airways, together with distinguished carriers like Delta Air Strains, Air France, and KLM.
The opposite airways in SkyTeam are Aerolineas Argentinos, AeroMexico, AirEuropa, China Airways, China Jap, Czech Airways, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, Center East Airways, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Xiamen Air.
This affiliation swap is anticipated to supply frequent flyers new avenues for loyalty level accrual and redemption throughout SkyTeam’s in depth international community.
For me, that is a very powerful factor, as the power to make use of my standing on KLM long-haul flights to Mexico is a large bonus.
The Way forward for the EuroBonus Programme
Regardless of the alliance change, SAS is dedicated to making sure a easy transition for its EuroBonus loyalty program members.
Advantages just like these at the moment loved below Star Alliance will probably be maintained, with the airline actively working to reinforce partnerships inside the SkyTeam framework whereas retaining the EuroBonus model.
The Way forward for Star Alliance in Scandinavia
Whereas SAS’s departure offers a big blow to Star Alliance’s presence in Scandinavia, the alliance stays optimistic about its regional operations.
Star Alliance, which boasts a strong community of 17 airways serving Scandinavia, has hinted at potential expansions to mitigate the affect of SAS’s exit.
