Scandinavian Airlines to Leave Star Alliance for SkyTeam

Last fall, it was announced that Air France-KLM, successful conjunction with different entities, were selected arsenic the winning bidders successful Scandinavian Airlines’s (SAS) restructuring process.

At the time, the Stockholm-based hose had been nether bankruptcy extortion for much than a year, and was looking to carve itself a caller way done the SAS Forward plan.

We present cognize much astir SAS’s plans, including erstwhile it volition officially exit the Star Alliance and statesman integrating with SkyTeam.

Scandinavian Airlines to Leave Star Alliance for SkyTeam

On October 3, 2023, it was announced that Air France-KLM, successful conjunction with backstage concern steadfast Castlelake, the Danish government, and Lind Invest, were selected arsenic the winning bidders successful Scandinavian Airlines’s restructuring.

As portion of the deal, Air France-KLM volition get a 19.99% involvement successful SAS, Castlelake volition get a 32% stake, the Danish authorities volition get a 25.8% stake, and Lind Invest volition get an 8.6% stake.

Air France-KLM volition get a 19.99% involvement successful SAS

We present cognize that SAS volition permission Star Alliance arsenic of August 31, 2024, astatine which constituent it volition statesman to integrate with SkyTeam, the confederation to which Air France-KLM belongs.

Initially, EuroBonus members volition begin to bask akin loyalty benefits with SkyTeam airlines arsenic of September 1, 2024. It’s not wide if SAS volition officially articulation SkyTeam astatine that point, oregon if it volition hap further down the line.

SAS was a founding subordinate of Star Alliance, and its departure volition trim the fig of airlines successful Star Alliance to 25, and rise the fig successful SkyTeam to 20.

For its part, Star Alliance has indicated that its different members volition proceed to service Scandinavia erstwhile SAS makes its ceremonial departure, arsenic indicated successful a property release:

Going forward, 17 Star Alliance subordinate airlines volition proceed to connection nonstop flights to and from Scandinavia, including Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal, Thai, Turkish Airlines, and United. These Star Alliance subordinate airlines volition run much than 3,700 flights per period to Scandinavia from 23 hubs worldwide, offering customers connections to much than 1,100 planetary destinations — the astir by immoderate hose alliance. In the future, Star Alliance subordinate airlines whitethorn bring further work to Scandinavia.

What Does the Future Hold for SAS and Air France-KLM?

Until August 31, 2024, it’s concern arsenic accustomed for SAS, which plans to proceed its operations without interruption until the woody is finalized. If each works out, SAS expects the woody to beryllium implemented successful the 2nd 4th of 2024.

Air France and KLM person beardown networks operating from their hubs successful Amsterdam and Paris, and the summation of SAS would adhd Nordic hubs to its network.

As it stands, SAS operates long-haul flights retired of Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm; however, it’s worthy noting that its web isn’t rather arsenic immense arsenic those of Air France and KLM.

Aside from plentifulness of short- and medium-haul destinations successful Europe and its environs, SAS presently lone flies to 3 destinations successful Asia, arsenic good arsenic 9 destinations successful Canada and the United States.

With entree to Air France and KLM’s overmuch wider way maps, passengers originating successful Scandinavia would bask casual entree to a broader network, including to destinations successful the Middle East, Asia, and South America, arsenic good arsenic much destinations successful North America.

It’s worthy noting that SAS isn’t the lone European hose whose aboriginal is successful flux astatine the present.

Recently, Star Alliance subordinate Lufthansa acquired a 41% involvement successful SkyTeam-member ITA Airways, with options to get the remainder from the Italian authorities successful the future.

Furthermore, different Star Alliance member, TAP Air Portugal, has been enactment up for merchantability by the Portuguese government.

It’s reported that Air France-KLM is 1 of the funny parties, alongside International Airline Group, which governs Oneworld carriers British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Vueling, arsenic good arsenic Star Alliance subordinate Lufthansa. 

Depending connected the outcomes of the aforementioned sales, the European aviation scenery could look remarkably antithetic successful the adjacent fewer years, which could besides see a shakeup to the rank of large hose alliances.

Conclusion

On October 3, 2023, SAS announced the winning radical of bidders for its restructuring. Air France-KLM, Castlelake, the Danish government, and Lind Invest person been selected arsenic the parties that volition bring SAS retired of bankruptcy protection.

We present cognize that SAS volition permission the Star Alliance connected August 31, 2024, to articulation Air France-KLM successful the SkyTeam confederation astatine immoderate constituent successful the future.

Assuming nary further hindrances, the woody is expected to beryllium finalized successful the 2nd 4th of 2024. 

The station Scandinavian Airlines to Leave Star Alliance for SkyTeam appeared archetypal connected Prince of Travel by T.J. Dunn.