Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS)
has announced that it would return to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
from May 21, 2025, noting that it would resume services between Copenhagen, Denmark, and Seattle, Washington, the United States, 57 years after the inaugural flight.
SAS expanding its North American route network
According to the airline, with SEA added to its network, it will now serve 11 North American destinations from Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
, which was a key international getaway from Scandinavia and Northern Europe.
Photo: Omar F Martinez | Shutterstock
Meanwhile, Anko van der Werff, the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of SAS, noted that the CPH–SEA route will provide more travel options for SAS passengers while also strengthening the connection between the Pacific Northwest and Scandinavia.
“This new addition to our network further expands our global reach and underscores our commitment to providing travelers with more direct route options.”
Requested by passengers
Van der Werff added that SEA had been a destination that was highly requested by the airline’s customers, with the CEO saying that SAS was excited to respond to their needs by launching the route. The carrier’s executive also added that SEA’s growing cargo operations will make the route even more strategically valuable to SAS.
Photo: Hervé Goussé | Airbus
Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium showed that SAS last served the route between CPH and SEA when it had up to six weekly flights with an Airbus A340-300 to the US airport in 2009.
However, July 2009 was the last time that SAS, or any airline, had served the route. Since January 2000, no other airline other than SAS has operated flights between the two cities, according to Cirium data.
According to SAS, Seattle was one of the wealthiest cities in the US, which has also maintained deep and proud connections with Scandinavia dating back to the early 20th century.
These ties have been shaped by immigrants from Scandinavia who brought their culture, skills, and entrepreneurial spirit to the region, SAS added.
Feeding network onto flights to SEA
SAS highlighted that its SEA schedules have been designed to maximize connectivity with the rest of its network, offering one-stop flights to and from 39 cities from CPH, including Berlin, Germany, Helsinki, Finland, Milan, Italy, and Zurich, Switzerland, which will benefit from the enhanced connectivity with SEA.
In May 2025, 11 other airlines, including Delta Air Lines, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, and others, have planned flights from SEA to Europe. In total, there will be 110 weekly flights, excluding SAS’ five weekly services to the Pacific Northwest city during the month, growing to 119 in June 2025.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
When the Department of Transportation (DOT) approved Delta Air Lines and SAS’ codeshare agreement on September 10, the government agency allowed the latter to put its flight codes on the former’s itineraries, including on flights between points in the US.
In terms of domestic flights from SEA, Delta Air Lines was the second-largest operator at the airport, scheduling 1,002 weekly domestic departures in September.
The largest was Alaska Airlines, with 2,288 weekly domestic flights during the same month, according to Cirium data.