SAS LEAVING STAR ALLIANCE: Why is this a BIG DEAL?

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Scandinavian Airlines, better known as SAS, has been a long-time member of the Star Alliance. In fact, it was one of the five founding members of the alliance back in 1997. Today, the airline announced its departure from Star Alliance amid a major change in its operations. What does this departure entail and what changes are coming to SAS? Find out here.
Sources used in the making of this video:
thepointsguy.com/news/sas-sca...
simpleflying.com/air-france-k...
*Certain photos were accessed through Wikimedia Commons
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:40 What is an "airline alliance"?
02:10 SAS Leaving Star Alliance
03:35 Changes & Takeovers
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#AS_Aviation #SAS #scandinavianairlines #staralliance #skyteam #klm #airfrance #aviation #airbus #boeing #scandinavia #nordic #a350 #a330
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[@ASAviation]

For anyone who somehow took offense to my Turkish Airlines comment: I am a huge fan of the airline and it is one of my favorites. My point in the video was that Turkish was not a FOUNDING member of Star Alliance. Of course I am aware Turkish is a much more important and powerful carrier than SAS. However, they did not play a part in founding Star Alliance while SAS did. My intention was not to downplay TK, it was to make the point that they did not establish Star Alliance when SAS did.

[@UlasMT]

nah uh boo, think next time before you come for us. cuz we ain't havin' your shit.

[@ASAviation]

@@UlasMT hurts to be hard-headed

[@he1461]

Amazing for an aviation connoisseur to be condescending towards Turkish Airlines! Turkish Airlines is among the top 10 airlines in the world as ranked by Skytrax and others. Their network is huge, their fleet impressive, and their service onboard excellent. One of the most popular airlines among international passengers.

[@ASAviation]

@@he1461 where am I being condescending, I literally just explained how I wasn’t trying to be condescending

[@MultiMediaEmperor]

@@UlasMT= 🤡

[@Blank00]

An interesting fact about SAS is that they contributed to Continental’s 1990s restructuring, which was in SkyTeam from 2004-2009

[@ASAviation]

Wow! That I didn’t know, how ironic though.

[@skyserf]

It will be interesting to see how the new United deals with this. It lost a few Scandinavian destinations to SAS over the past years.

[@MainStageGuru]

Air France / KLM Group (both carriers part of SkyTeam) providing exit financing for SAS's bankruptcy is the reason why they're changing alliances - I'm quite sure it was a condition of SAS receiving that financing. If the Star Alliance was that concerned with keeping SAS within their group, the could have provided the exit financing instead of a competitor alliance. A missed opportunity for one alliance was a gain for another.

[@dozyaustin]

The press release states "this was the big they chose" - so it's assumed multiple bids were made, and SAS picked this one. I aasume there was a Star Alliance bid in there - possibly / probably led by Lufthansa.

[@nntflow7058]

Also, It's hard for SAS to work with Lufthansa Group, Turkish Airlines and TAP portugal on the European front.

[@Window_seatspotter]

To be fair it’s likely that ITA will switch alliances once Lufthansa buys the airline

[@Torbjorn.Lindgren]

It's been reported that AF/KLM has contractual terms in the deal which will allow them to later increase their initial share (startinng at 20%?) to a "controlling" share, which everyone reads as meaning >50% ownership. And it makes sense for some of the other involved in this deal to wanting someone to be interested in buying some shares from them as they convert loans to shares (IIRC all involved has loans with conversion rights?). It's also been speculated that this "exit Star Alliance" is actually part of the formal agreement, but even if it isn't it makes sense given the likely future of SAS. The exact terms aren't known, just the headlines so we have to speculate a bit.

[@th8257]

​@@dozyaustinnope, there was no bid from any Star alliance party. The rival bid came from a private equity firm called Apollo Global Management. Indeed, it was reported that Air France / KLM's bid took Lufthansa completely by surprise.

[@matthewrao6868]

Maybe as Lufthansa buys controlling interest in Italy’s ITA, formerly a SkyTeam partner, this move makes a lot of sense for SkyTeam and SAS. AirFrance/KLM needs another medium size carrier with another hub in Europe.

[@jo.frmva1]

If SAS leaves star alliance then ITA becomes star alliance ITA

[@THExBLAZEx88]

@@jo.frmva1SAS DID leave star alliance, it’s not if

[@dli-mx]

@@THExBLAZEx88 always a chance that the deal gets blocked by DOT/EU

[@pedrorequio5515]

There is an European Hub up for grabs in Portugal of TAP, the privatization was anounced last week, This one is particularly huge strategically, depite not being huge financially, because the biggest European carrier into South America is in Portugal, because Geography, and also there are no slots available in Lisbon and TAP for historic reasons preaty much owns the place and has all the best slots, as well as historic very valuable slots in major European airports, like very valuable mid morning slots at Heathrow.

[@schnitzelsemmel]

ITA is fairly useless anyways. No big hubs, just a little bit of Italy-bound international travel and what's left of the domestic market after the trains got competitive (mostly Naples and Sicily). Probably good for Lufthansa though as they would then control basically all of central Europe. That Portuguese airline sounds much more attractive for transcontinental hub operations, especially with South America.

[@nielsolzen]

Thank you for this excellent video. Not everybody would be aware of SAS interesting and pioneering history being the Scandinavian PAN AM with a history going back to 1933. The groups consolidation in 1951 into one company (Scandinavian Airlines System) where the state of Denmark (DDL), Norway (DNL), and Sweden (Aerotransport) were the main shareholders. It was classy, innovative, chic, safe and was severely hit, like so many other flag carriers, by deregulation and the onslaught of low fare companies. It was branded "the businessmans' airline" and operated a vast network of domestic flights all over Scandinavia, connecting Denmark and Greenland and pioneering transatlantic flights via Sondrestrom, Greenland (later broken up by competition after deregulation). The fierce competition and immense developments in the industry has put them in a situation on the brink of bankruptcy (chapter 11 in the USA) and Swedish and Norwegian governments leaving the consortium leaving only Denmark, with a vested interest due to Copenhagen Airport being of immense importance to Danish economy. In the past, Lufthansa and KLM were seen as potential buyers, but history took it in a different direction. Read the interesting, complicated but excellent rendering in Wikipedia. Good luck to SAS! BTW: I love Lufthansa, AF/KLM and happily fly with Turkish Airlines.

[@Computron64]

In follow up news, I just read yesterday that the CEO of Air France-KLM strongly hinted that they are planning to include SAS in the joint venture partnership program that today consists of Delta, Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic. If that ever comes through, it could probably be a good mutual benefit and a nice addition to the partnership.

[@skandavasuki-ue3pb]

Also SAS could transfer some of its A350s to AF or KL since demand to Asia has sunk after the war in Ukraine. A similar move done by LATAM when Delta bought a stake in the airline

[@ASAviation]

That would be an interesting move especially considering AF/KLM already ordered A350s!

[@errorsofmodernism7331]

@@ASAviationthey can cancel those orders

[@jamesau4296]

@@errorsofmodernism7331 Another Approach is to retire more older A330

[@umeshurocks]

demand to asia hasnt sunk. Prices have skyrocketed

[@obelic71]

@@umeshurocks The old over the North pole flight routes of the cold war have returned to reach Asia. Those routes are 40-60% longer. Thats why fuel efficient ELR versions of new models of Airbus and Boeing are in high demand.

[@fal218]

Alliances is much bigger than tickets and sharing rewarding clubs. Using facilities such as exclusive terminals and lounges and maintenance facilities and ground staff instead of finding a 3rd party contractors.

[@thorstenschoop205]

Actually booking SASplus within europe was the cheapest way to get into Lufthansa's Lounges...

[@dthomas9230]

@@thorstenschoop205 Thanks for that. After I got disabled for life onboard my carrier as a crew member thanks to a simple boarding protocol easily corrected to prevent TBIs, Cervical Spondylosis Trauma, Pneumothoraces, and death at 36,000ft . Preventing death and disability is not allowed in ORD, so they fired me, without passes, 4 weeks before retirement, without a hearing. I cannot fly coach with my company-caused disability. ORD corporations seek to kill the employees they terminated, in retirement, to save the FICA company match from being claimed.

[@skandavasuki-ue3pb]

Awesome video man! Love the details and the incredible script!

[@lawrencehenesey201]

True - good video

[@damianmurphy9224]

This may be good news for Skyteam but it doesn’t seem much for Star Alliance. With Lufthansa, Swiss Air and Austrian Airlines all in the heart of Europe and Turkish further out very few Star Alliance services seemed to go via SAS ports. For Star Alliance I think a bigger impact is likely if ITA or TAP join (via Lufthansa’s bid). I think it may change Lufthansa’s group direction on Scandinavia connectivity but possibly they are happy with their existing routes out of Germany or using LOT

[@thomashausner6962]

TAP is already in Star Alliance since 2005...

[@leo.f.v.andersson]

TAP is already in SA and SAS have quite a lot of overlapping routes with LOT, Austrian, Lufthansa, Swiss and Brussels Airlines so Star Alliance have the Nordics pretty well covered without SAS

[@Bunnyroo7]

It makes a lot of sense. SAS was never well-served by Star Alliance. Scandinavian countries have long been popular with Japanese tourists, but Star Alliance never had that good Japanese network. In contrast, Air France and KLM did much better. Likewise, Scandinavian destinations have loon been popular in the US Midwest due to the number of Swedish-Americans and Norwegian-Americans living there. Relying on New York did not help them much there, but Minneapolis will as it's the best airport for those routes.

[@CryptocurrencyInsider]

ANA, THAI, Lufthansa, Swiss all fly to Japan daily from Europe…

[@Bunnyroo7]

@@CryptocurrencyInsider Yawn. How tedious. You rather miss the point.

[@svr5423]

Star Alliance has a good japanese network. However, people fly arab or cathay because Star Alliance prices are ridiculous. AF and KLM have less good connections to Asia. SAS offered plenty of flights from central europe to Scandinavia. But their service is sub par to other star alliance airlines, so people would try to avoid them at all cost.

[@Bunnyroo7]

@@svr5423 Yes and no. Star Alliance tend to rely too much on Tokyo and Osaka. In the past, KLM had a far better Japanese network, though they've cut back in the last few years. The exceptions are Thai Airways and Lufthansa. Thai Airways has a good European -- including Nordic -- and Japanese network. Lufthansa has more options, but it relies too heavily on Frankfurt and that airport is a liability. To their credit, KLM have an excellent European network. Very often, when flying to the UK, KLM is the better option. Agreed about SAS service. It's not the worst and their prices are often competitive, but I've rarely been impressed. I flew with them a few times this year and they disappointed by low expectations. Their intercontinental flights offer almost the same level of service as KLM's longer European flights.

[@frodej6640]

@@CryptocurrencyInsider If you travel from the northern europe, then Finnair is the best choice since they fly over russia and have a considerable short flight (9 hours from Helsinki). Every one else has to fly around.

[@andykillsu]

This really came out of nowhere… You would think that a founding member wouldn’t leave unless things were really bad. And perhaps they were for SAS. One thing I don’t really get is the area SAS serves is very close and similar as KLM and Air France. So now you have 3 Sky Team airlines all within like 500 miles of each other. The amount of overlapping routes is massive. This is going to be very interesting to see what happens with Chicago O’Hare now. We don’t have a Sky Team hub at O’Hare, so I could see them pull out, but Chicago is also a massive destination. So I could honestly see it go either way if they will continue to serve both. As a crazy idea, I could see United and SAS go into a code share agreement. It would benefit both sides, SAS gets more transfers from United, and United travelers can fly SAS to get to areas in the Nordic.

[@aviatorsound914]

I mean Chicago, or Atlanta could be on the same value in terms of destination since they’re both pretty busy airport with Atlanta being significantly more busier because of Delta. Atlanta is also a pretty big financial hub in the south within the United States. Atlanta is the worlds busiest airport.

[@andykillsu]

@@aviatorsound914 Atlanta is so busy because nearly every Delta flight from the south to North on the east coast goes through it. That and they don’t have a secondary airport to take some traffic. But if you look at the number of aircraft movements Atlanta and O’Hare are very similar.

[@Mat2000IPAD]

Lufthansa, Brussel Airlines, Austrian airline and Swiss are all in star alliance and they are very close geographically

[@andykillsu]

@@Mat2000IPAD Brussels is bankrupt and Austrian has a much smaller network than Air France or KLM.

[@dozyaustin]

Things were really bad - SAs has been in Chapter 11 for the past year. It seems there were mutliple bids - they chose this one. So it must have been better than whatever Star Alliance (likely led by Lufthansa) put forth.

[@Rhiwwers]

I'm out of a family, where both my mother (including her) and father's side have been working either as ground personnel, mechanics or in the air - primarily for SAS. Times have changed so much since my grandfather would home home drunk from after flying as a second pilot and navigator to east asia. SAS is a total ruin and as a happy and avid AF/KLM customer I can't wait to see what this will bring to the old lady. Like, imagine, if they started serving complimentary snacks again (like when I was a kid) or just in general started providing the kind of comfort and good experience that AF/KLM does right now. Not to mention the shared points program, which will be much easier to manage since AF/KLM didn't engineer their websites in the Stone Age. It will actually feel like going with a national carrier and not a low budget company again. Out with the old and in with the (old) new!

[@bartsolari5035]

As a passenger I concur with with your granfather, the only to travel by air is half in the bag

[@fahadfaisal7855]

Good analytical report, mate!

[@rihasanatrofolo2472]

Which aliance is better for the customer in terms of coverage and points collection? Eurobonus + star aliance points were great.

[@DeltaRoSigma]

SkyTeams is the B-team of alliances so not too thrilled...

[@bigkevinpetrona]

Considering that oneworld is the C team.

[@EpicThe112]

I wonder if SK will move ARN/OSL-EWR to JFK due to DL having a hub there. There's a con to this is that SAS Eurobonus Diamond (Current Star Alliance Gold post Deal Skyteam Elite Plus) member can't visit a DL Skyclub like JFK Terminal 4 and EWR Terminal A due to DL having a policy of non DL skyteam elite plus being prohibited to use them on Domestic Travel. Currently Eurobonus Diamond Star Alliance Gold can use United Lounges on Domestic US Travel

[@skandavasuki-ue3pb]

Could definitely OSL, ARL, and CPH to ATL starting soon and possibly shifting load from ORD to DTW and even MSP or BOS. The Delta 757 would be great to launch service from BOS

[@ASAviation]

Delta 757s in Scandinavia would be super cool, something like what they do with KEF.

[@robcook7627]

During the Northwest Airlines days, they use to fly nonstop from BOS to CPH, OSL, ARN and maybe other cities in that region.

[@ungesalsa2554]

I think it's more likely there will be less focus on OSL and ARN (not ARL, i assume you mean Arlanda), and a heavier focus on CPH because it already has the best international/ long haul network.

[@cokezzz8249]

@@ASAviationDelta used to fly 767 from Cph to ATL, and it didn’t work out for them

[@dthomas9230]

@@cokezzz8249 UAL flies seasonally and quit service to ARN last month.

[@jerrythemouse28]

Star Alliance Logo should be changed from 5 stars to 4 stars🤣

[@iamra_n3189]

Originally, I wasn't too happy about this. Worried even, as I fly for a SAS ACMI7subsidiary. But, your video has helped me to see the whole thing in a different light. Thank you!

[@freightcaviar]

I have a RT ticket with SAS Nov 1st-13th. I need this flight to count towards my miles & more points so I can earn Frequent Traveller this year. Do you think I will be affected or should be fine?

[@gunvaldsandhaland7757]

For Me Is That Good News If SAS Become Skyteam Member.Thanks For Great INFO

[@ajs11201]

On a personal note, this makes me very happy. I'm a loyal Delta customer and have many, many miles with SkyTeam. This change opens up new travel possibilities for me.

[@andykillsu]

Except for the changes they did to their loyalty program!

[@ajs11201]

@@andykillsu True enough. I'm waiting to hear about the changes to the changes.

[@andykillsu]

@@ajs11201 you will be hoping for a long time. It’s pretty obvious they aren’t making any changes from what they announced

[@bjorn2625]

Yeah sort of me too. I fly a lot in China and the US while taking personal trips to the nordics twice a year. This will allow me to use a lot of work miles on reward travel in the Nordics.

[@wurlyone4685]

Surprised that the video focussed on the future of SAS and the Skyteam members but didnt really deal with the potential implications and future for Star Alliance?

[@rosemarymonty5399]

I loved flying Star Alliance flights when I lived in Oslo. Now I wonder what the remaining Star Alliance partners will do now?

[@Tuukkohakee]

I’d see LH expanding a bit more into the nordics, maybe some of the Star alliance airlines leaving CPH and probably not much else. The nordics aren’t that big of a market to begin with, and losing SAS isn’t therefore going to be as big of an blow to Star as losing some of the central european airlines.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing. This is a surprise!☺☺😲😲 Well, I hope SAS can continue yo be a good airlines. I am United airline member.

[@ChlckenNugget]

as a delta employee and atlanta native, i'm all for this 😀

[@g4orce703]

As a united employee and dc native I'm saddened by this news 😢.. hurts my spirits and crushes my soul! We lost a good one

[@juniorcampbell2980]

That is really shocking news.

[@frdml01]

I fly KLM a lot from Amsterdam to various European destinations. It always strikes me how many transit passengers fly along to or from Scandinavia. I hope it adds a bit more of north European culture to the group, with the French culture being quite different.

[@Bunnyroo7]

KLM have a reasonably good Nordic network -- and an excellent British network. KLM fares are usually competitive and they fly to most of the more popular destinations for Nordic travellers.

[@KevinEnjoyer]

I had no idea Netherlands to Norway was anything beyond the basic demand. But it's clearly selling like hotcakes, given how four flights leave Stavanger to Amsterdam daily. And we're not talking small planes, sometimes it's a 737. I'd expect something far less like one every two days given how much brand loyalty to Norwegian and SAS there is in Norway.

[@thomasrealist6181]

The schiphol (Amsterdam) hub is so much better than Copenhagen (you can hardly call it an international hub). I have heard Schiphol has 60-80% transitpassengers. For years chosen as best airport in the world the announced last week a 4 billion investment in better services due to some lacking improvements the last couple of years

[@Bunnyroo7]

@@thomasrealist6181 Copenhagen does well for what it is. Denmark is a small country. It doesn't even have a third of the population of the Netherlands. Whereas the Dutch have always been well-connected globally, the Danes have always been bit-players in that respect, usually riding on the coattails of the Dutch and British. Beyond that, the Dutch and Danish business cultures and communication styles are far more compatible than they are with, say, the Germans or the Swiss. SAS will never be a truly global carrier. They have a network, but nothing remarkable. Focusing on more flights between major Scandinavian airports and Amsterdam and Paris makes a lot more sense than the older set-up. They gain access to Delta's US network, Air France's African network, etc.

[@jmolofsson]

​@@Bunnyroo7 Until now, the airline's purpose has been to facilitate Scandinavian businesses, rather than to compete with airlines from densely populated parts of the world. The Norwegian state sold its shares in 2018, the Swedes are giving up now. Whether this turns out disadvantageous for Norwegian and Swedish business travelers remains to be seen. But since SAS never recovered from any of the three global crises of the last 50 years (1973, 2001, 2020), the Swedish and the Norwegian government cannot really be blamed for giving up easily.

[@aarnililja5599]

Great video. But Boston i´s also major hub for skyteam alliance cuz it´s delta airlines hub

[@sandman6045]

IDK why but it kinda rings my bell as i remembered that SAS had announced direct flights from Gothenberg and Newyork on their A321Lr...🤔

[@hansssnet]

Great video I hope to see MSP-CPH

[@NihilSineDeo09]

Can SAS swap some of its EWR slots with some of United's JFK slots?

[@FalconX88]

I'm flying star alliance whenever possible but SAS flights were never very attractive. Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, United, and Canadian were always better options when going to north America...

[@syafiqrizuan5588]

Because SAS is not part of Transtlantic Joint Venture and it is neglected with other Star Alliance partners such as Air Canada, Lufthansa and United for Transatlantic flights.

[@marcd6897]

they had a convenient flight to Dulles via CPH from Germany, but with them not being part of Star Alliance any longer, that would also mean not this route any longer. I have too many miles in my Star mileage account but not flying enough to maintain multiple loyalty accounts with a meaningful outcome. Sad, I liked the C product on their A330 and was planning to try their A350, but not any more.

[@ingerjuni]

I would love to have domestic flight within Scandinavia operated by KLM, my main airline anyway! (I live in Norway)

[@benjamintomassennordahl7911]

Don’t think this makes it any more likely, as KLM customers can now easily transfer onto SAS services.

[@happy88858]

I guess there’ll be a new Polaris lounge at Chicago O’hare T5 to replace SAS lounge there. (Which is the only Star Alliance lounge at T5)😅

[@stephencheshire3109]

Will they be leaving Heathrow T2 and going to T4?

[@NewGen911]

Another Alliances' fight looming ahead is about TAP Air Portugal going to be privatised. The 3 alliances are bidding to acquire TAPs who is currently in Star Alliance network. No hints about who will control TAP in the coming months. Any ideas about the future of TAP?

[@ASAviation]

Heard about that as well. I heard Lufthansa Group might try to acquire them which I could see. But also OneWorld would make some sense too given Iberia in Spain is nearby.

[@iluvhousemuzic]

Going to go out on a limb but they are def going to be flying blue rewards soon, which is a win for anyone that travels a lot throughout Europe and utilize all three airlines and partners

[@HOKROICHETSIPSONG]

that is UNBELIEVABLE that SAS is leaving from Star alliance!!! that airline is 1 of 5 founder of Star alliance.

[@kbhasi]

I imagine one of the first steps would be to discontinue Star Alliance bookings after a certain cut-off date and honour all of the existing ones that were made.

[@knutvreb6506]

KLM already has great connection to Norway serving 7 cities. Air France serves only two, with less departures as well. They just have one flight a day to my home town while KLM has three. I would say KLM are already well established here, not sure how it is in DK and SE

[@EdJonesVideos]

Entirely selfishly, I'm quite upset about this as I'm *G with Aegean but often fly to Scandinavia with SAS, and although I know they've sometimes not had the best reputation I've always really liked SAS's lounges have have collected quite a few points with them through the years! Oh well.

[@michaelsharp3615]

SAS to SkyTeam now people with Delta can get to Scandinavia easier

[@Rndmstff737]

Sad to see them leave but I’m sure they will do well in the sky team alliance

[@williamward359]

They needed to do something because SAShas been having trouble forever it seems. Maybe star alliance was too stagnant for them. Hoping the best for them.

[@jakebraby7018]

SAS should consider SLC, there’s a lot of people in Utah who are descendants from Scandinavian countries who definitely would love to visit

[@th8257]

KLM already has an extensive presence in scandinavia - it's not the main reason for this deal. SAS and Air France / KLM have said that the main benefit they see is in a Transatlantic joint venture

[@aviatorsound914]

Tho Atlanta would serve the same function as being a major destination or a connecting hub since I mean, Atlanta is the worlds busiest airport e.e.

[@alla_spa]

As somome that is Flying to cicaco whith sas in the summer so i am a bit mad and sad, sas is the only airline i have flown on😢

[@elfulano5884]

MSP could be a good fit for SK given the large Scandinavian community there.

[@rodrigoreyesc75]

Muy interesante😮👍..

[@filipasbergmontgomery4007]

It’s also worth noting SAS was never part of the star alliance transatlantic joint venture (with united, air canada, and the lufthansa group carriers). So they are not as intermeshed with the rest of the alliance

[@pjharrington4277]

The fact SAS hasn't already started service to MSP is mind-boggling when you think about it since that is where the highest concentration of Scandinavians live in the US. SAS to Skyteam frees them of Newark and allows them to pick destinations that actually make sense.

[@xergiok2322]

It's not mind-boggling, because there's no demand. The occasional American who visits Scandinavia to rediscover their roots, or whatever, is not a viable customer base. Actual Scandinavians have no interest in so called American-Scandinavians. We have no relatives to visit in Minnesota because their ancestors emigrated too long ago.

[@ZBAA-]

For Asia？ Such as CPH-HND , It seems difficult to achieve code sharing… Maybe they can only cooperation with China Eastern/ Xiamen air/ China Airlines or Korean airlines and let them try to open up more routes between mainland China/ Taiwan and South Korea……The situation of this group in Asia is very dangerous

[@michaelgoetze2103]

Perhaps a bit of tit for tat? Air France KLM lost the bid for Alitalia (SkyTeam) to Lufthansa and I presume they will eventually leave for Star Alliance.

[@carlgustafmann2222]

Very sad! Why didn’t Lufthansa make a bid?

[@user-lk3ke6xj8o]

It’s about time

[@idxluaviation]

I'm quite sad that SAS is leaving star alliance, It was one of my favorite Star Alliance carriers, (I'm a star alliance loyalist lmao) It's going to leave a huge gap in the alliance that can't be replaced.

[@Dexter037S4]

*ahem* SAS is going bust anyways at this rate, this is likely a last ditch attempt at saving the airline by going full LCC to combat Norwegian.

[@svr5423]

SAS was the worst of Star Alliance carriers - by far. Best one so far is Condor.

[@idxluaviation]

@@svr5423 condor isn’t even in star alliance officially, lol.

[@svr5423]

@@idxluaviation when I book with Condor I get Star Alliance connecting flights. They are much cheaper than other Star Alliance airlines (e.g. Air Canada, Swiss) and their business class product ist quite nice with a very attentive cabin crew. Only downside, their planes are quite old, but so are the ones from Swiss.

[@2001perseus.]

I don't know enough about the subject, so I have no view on SAS's future. All I can say is, that it is one of the best airlines I have ever flown with and I hope it's future is a bright one.

[@Advit682]

I think SAS should resume its direct flights to Delhi (as there is only one connectivity between DEL & CPH, Air India) it would be nice to see the flights resume after 50 or 60 years... SAS can also compete with Air India since it's a part of its rival alliances now... SAS can also start new flights to BOM, Seoul, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv (which they have to resume), etc. instead of just Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, and Tokyo. They should make a big presence in Asia. They can focus on Canada as well by resuming flights to Montréal (as Air Canada serves Copenhagen from Montréal seasonally; a new year-round flight would be efficient), and they can start new flights to Vancouver as well... They should focus on Africa as well (with the help of Kenya Airways), they can resume flights to Nairobi, Johannesburg, etc. After all the controversies are gone, instead of serving Saint Petersburg seasonally, they can finally resume their flights to Moscow (Sheremetyevo)... I think this is the first blow to the global expansion that awaits SAS!

[@mikael807]

Not realistic at all. I’m speaking as a Norwegian, SAS euro bonus member. First of all Scandinavia is looked by the world as “one market”, arrogant and ignorant position to say the least. Two Scandinavia as a destination isn’t for everyone’s taste/wallet. We Norwegians used to call SAS (Svensk, Alt, Sammen) meaning quite literally “everything is Swedish”. Norwegians has the highest purchasing power and a very unique domestic market, which is the most profitable market for SAS. To put into perspective triangle of Oslo-Bergen-Oslo Trondheim and Oslo Stavanger has around 1.3-2 mill passengers a year. With a one of the highest frequencies in the network. But we were used to pay huge sums until Norwegian (LCC) came in 2002 as a competitor. Denmark has used Kastrup as the major hub and ditched Norwegian market, Sweden has a much smaller network than Denmark but had/has more intercontinental flights such as mentioned like Chicago and Toronto. They have poorer purchasing power, not as strong business/corporate market as Norway but still had a good grip. When SAS opens new intercontinental routes they have to make sure they are able to make a profit. SAS closed many routes such as Dubai, Houston , Seattle, Hong Kong and Bangkok the resent years. Cph is an old dinosaur, Arlanda as well. Oslo airport is the most modern airport 25 years today with two major explosions in those decades. But no chance to get international flights that doesn’t have a strong enough market. Just notice that Norway has no China (Hainan lasted 5 months or so in 2019) connections as one of few Western European countries. Denmark has hubs such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Heathrow, Istanbul and others to feed to their final destination with better prices sometimes or more capacity. SAS can’t have double flights a day to LA or Beijing. It just doesn’t work. Sorry for babbling, but I understand that you have hopes, I and so many others gave that up years ago. That’s the reason Qatar airways and Turkish Airlines has snapped up some stake as well as Norwegian on leisure within Europe. I’m upset about this deal. And probably will it book SAS in a while. Due to the fact of the sudden move.

[@flabarre9776]

Why would you be in an alliance with a setup that includes Air Canada?

[@terryterry1655]

how much does it cost for an airline to join an alliance? can one join all three?

[@Canleaf08]

Codeshare, interlining and mutual recognition of loyalty programmes is the key. You can earn Qantas miles on Air New Zealand flights and vice versa.

[@LeifES]

Exciting yes, but not surprising.

[@user-hf3fq3tx6r]

I want SAS change to OneWorld

[@jojje3000-1]

KLM-AF are so welcome up here in the Scands.

[@TeamOdiffat]

No

[@jojje3000-1]

We need something better than SAS, feels like an old relict.

[@Cosmopolitm]

Very expensive to fly with them

[@quincyquincy4764]

Does this mean more flights, affordable flights too and from Scandinavia? I'm happy with that

[@ASAviation]

Not sure, but better connectivity amongst airlines like KLM, Delta, and Air France will be coming.

[@brjnskjaard7287]

I wished they offered comparable service to KLM

[@ptn2452]

Incomplete. Who are Skyteam and how will Scandinavian benefit e.g., a counterpoint to the earlier mentioned selling of seats to Pakistan cities.

[@timothydevries383]

There are some really cheap SAS flights at the moment if you're willing to risk it.

[@NordicUrs]

That makes me happy. Finally a direct flight with SkyTeam from Dulles to Copenhagen! Very happy!

[@andykillsu]

Uhh I mean SAS already served Dulles to Copenhagen… and even then, they might end the Dulles route as it doesn’t go to a Sky Team hub.

[@ASAviation]

@@andykillsuSAS hasn’t suggested that it will end IAD due to it being non-SkyTeam. They will probably keep that destination especially with it being the Nation’s capital.

[@NurseTAIWAN]

the huge concern is that if any member airlines leaving Star Alliance, there is no other airlines would take over their loyal members, they may lose their Star Alliance gold status. Besides SAS, Asiana Airlines may leave S.A, too. Thus, travelers may be afraid to join any SA redemption program because no guarantee

[@EpicThe112]

You are correct in the case of your country Taiwan it comes down as this want Skyteam elite plus go China Airlines Dynasty Flyer however inside the United States Sky Club entrance in Newark Terminal A will not let you in. On the other hand an Eva Air Infinty mileagelands Star Alliance gold gets access to UA Terminal C United Club

[@user-lv4ky3ft3s]

why should they joining skyteam, even Cathay Pacific shareholder was Air China an Star Alliance member they still at oneworld, also air europa was skyteam member but holds by IAG an majority oneworld member

[@quattordicimontenapoleone3113]

Such a downgrade, going from Star Alliance to SkyTeam. And being owned by Dumb and Dumber. End of an era where Sweden had a proper flag carrier.

[@th8257]

One of those weird, childish tribal comments. We shall see what happens in skyteam, but if Star alliance had taken care of SAS more, perhaps they wouldn't have gone bankrupt to start with.

[@quattordicimontenapoleone3113]

@@th8257 Tribal? If you're Scandinavian and you're a business traveller, you would know exactly why this is a downgrade. That you're saying StarAlliance should've helped SAS makes me think you have no idea what you're talking about.

[@bjolie78]

makes sense

[@Originalman144]

I think it’s a good move for SAS, considering their alternatives included bankruptcy. EWR is a much better hub than JFK though. Connectivity at JFK into NYC and New Jersey is annoying.

[@skylineXpert]

The walk over will be completed but it will take years.

[@jacktheIV44]

WHOO! SAS joining SkyTeam! Fly Delta jets, Boiz

[@gulyascredo]

As French I kinda have no choice but Skyteam. I do prefer AirFrance than any other European carrier so that's easy; but SkyTeam, now lost Aeroflot, has not a single route to Central Asia, this is ridiculous, and disappoints a big traveller like me -- I'd certainly fly SkyTeam if had the choice. SAS joining is certainly better than worse, but AF and KLM both already fly to all Scandinavian capitals, essentially it doesn't fundamentally change the European commercial aviation landscape.

[@Suburp212]

Why?!?!?

[@adityaw91]

So the condition is SAS leaves star alliance and joining sky team and soon will followed by Asiana , while ITA leave sky team and join star alliance

[@rajendrabareto8065]

Such a good deal then why investors are doomed?

[@ebarteldes]

As a more frequent Delta/Skyteam flyer, this is good news. I want to get my miles on my Delta/Skymiles account but many EU airlines are Star Alliance. So this gives me another option I guess

[@2hotnspicy1]

It’s very sad. Many of my coworkers including myself are going to cancel their Euro bonus credit card since Sky Team is the crappiest alliance out of the three. look at their members. The only good ones are KLM and Air France. Very sad day.

[@leo.f.v.andersson]

That will be hard, moving from EWR to JFK since SAS sold pretty much all of its slots there to get som cash.

[@emre_yirmi]

I now hope that another northern airline joines star alliance, maybe norwegian. Either that or the bid from airfranceklm gets rejected and sas gets to stay in star alliance

[@TM-nu5vd]

No big deal and not a ripple -- SAS is a small player in Star Alliance. The other members can pick up the slack.

[@remi_gio]

True.

[@benjamintomassennordahl7911]

The issue is more for the Star Alliance members to pick up valuable passengers from the Nordic region as with SAS leaving these passengers are more likely to be using the Sky Team transfers when going abroad then what they currently use.

[@Aziz-rs8ep]

Surprised to see it still flying, but for how long. Another legacy airline that should have gone bust and out a long time ago.

[@jo.frmva1]

No…. It formed star alliance… also copa left sky team to join star alliance in 2012

[@yvr2002rtw]

Perhaps Star Alliance might get new members? Maybe Emirates, Etihad or even Oman Air?

[@ASAviation]

Hard to say. Oman Air will be joining OneWorld soon, it’s probable that Emirates could join Star Alliance since they have a partnership with United but even that seems unlikely.

[@yvr2002rtw]

@@ASAviation Maybe perhaps this might be a sign that airline alliances are becoming more and more irrelevant in the times to come. Instead, individual airlines would focus more on route/region specific partnerships with each other such as QF/EK, CX/NZ etc.

[@tuandoan-saigon]

Might be ITA Airways (currently a Skyteam member) since Lufthansa (one of Star Alliance founding members) has acquired 41% stakes of ITA Airways

[@yvr2002rtw]

@@tuandoan-saigon Not necessarily. Air China owns a significant portion of Cathay Pacific and you don't see CX being part of *A! Perhaps sometimes it might be better for the airline's parent company to have a portfolio of investments in airlines that are in different alliances.

[@tuandoan-saigon]

@@yvr2002rtw I am not too sure about Lufthansa Group though, if you take a look at their member airlines / flag carriers, like Air Belgium, Austrian Airlines, or Swiss Air, they all belong to Star Alliance. I don't see how ITA Airways can escape from Star Alliance if I.A is a subsidiary of Lufthansa Group.

[@UlasMT]

Your jab at TK was totally uncalled for. TK has a much more valuable and wider flight network than SAS - fyi.

[@pattttttttt]

Never fly with them again after just finding out they reschedule my flight. Meaning I'm now stranded at amsterdam

[@rqstaffan]

As an ex-pat Swede coming up on million miler levels with Delta, I'm in favour of this.

[@dthomas9230]

I'm an expat American in Sweden who was a former employee of UAL and got permanently disabled onboard a plane from a preventable safety issue. UALSW, the flight attendant department, denies MRIs for crew so your disability is a lie, and all crew are faking their illness and disability, so they can maim, or kill, crew to reduce labor costs. ABA, CBA, and AFA support such practices. I'm alive thanks to Karolinska Institute which United Airlines said was fake, and unacceptable, as only faith healing is allowed at UALSW. BTW, Army is being dispatched to no-go zones that look like America, with gun violence out-of-control. 37,500,000 refugees since W was forced on America after losing both votes for POTUS. GOP wanted a war.

[@RealConstructor]

Should it have played a role that KLM has a heavy presence in Scandinavia, flying to 13 destinations in Sweden (3), Denmark (3) and Norway (7) a few times a day? I could imagine SAS being bothered by so many transfer passengers leaking away from their home market to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport instead of using Copenhagen Airport. They could now regain the home market and feeding Copenhagen Airport with more transfer passengers. KLM should rethink their strategy, which part of Europe would get their focus next in order to feed its home airport. I think SAS and AF have much to gain with this deal and KLM not so much. Or am I wrong here?

[@RealConstructor]

@@Valkyrie57 That’s not what I wrote and that’s not the issue. I am Dutch, fly KLM and live close by Schiphol Airport. I just wonder if this SAS share purchase by AF-KLM will benefit Copenhagen Airport, SAS and AF more than, or even disadvantage, KLM and Schiphol Airport. AF-KLM wants to benefit from their share in SAS, so it must make a profit in the future. It could be the case that AF-KLM orders KLM to lower its presence in Scandinavia in order for SAS to strengthen their position in Scandinavia. That would diminish transfer passengers at Schiphol Airport and SAS will regain these passengers to Copenhagen Airport.

[@normananderson7466]

SAS to form its own alliance called star alien as most of its flights never leave the ground (employees are too busy for fika and multiple labour stoppage)

[@ferrariscuderia4290]

Short sellers of SAS stock are having a good day today. Maybe its time to load up on SAS stock for a bargain now.

[@aahmetdemirkan]

Just to help you from not losing money. The stock is worthless. Quite literally. It is being delisted and nothing will be paid out to common stockholders. The management team has even said so for months, that the there should be no expectations of payout for stockholders.

[@nicolainielsen7700]

@@aahmetdemirkan You don't know what a short position is, do you?

[@CodydaUwUCawio]

Dont forget Asiana will also leave soon. The Star alliance will shrink considerably.

[@RadioNul]

All the SAS shareholders got screwed

[@lawrencehenesey201]

Sad. I been SAS gold member for 23 years and Diamond for a few. Traveled 19.7 times around the world with over 407 flights (all this is kept on my SAS app.). So, now what happens to my “loyalty”? I know that my 50,000 shares of SAS are now gone… Finally, as insult - I must use Air France and KLM!!! Two of the three worst carriers in terms of service and price. Oh yeah, it is rather suspicious that the Dutch CEO of SAS (used to work for KLM) is now selling the business to his buddies

[@remi_gio]

👏

[@FinnakaLite]

EXACTALLY, sky team will kill sas. There are so many routes they are loosing out on, just to gain delta, and airfrance and klm?? Not worth it at all

[@linus284]

I understand your frustration but most definitely SAS will provide you with an equal status in skyteam.