As SAS prepares for its entry into the SkyTeam airline alliance, it has revised and expanded its existing codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines. This comes after news had emerged earlier this month that the US Department of Transport (DOT) had approved a request to expand their partnership, despite JetBlue objections. The enhanced agreement will cover 150 destinations in North America, as well as around 50 destinations in Northern Europe.
SAS
- IATA/ICAO Code
-
SK/SAS
- Year Founded
-
1946
- Airline Group
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SAS Group
- CEO
-
Anko van der Werff
- Loyalty Program
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EuroBonus
A strengthened partnership
SAS and Delta have penned an expansion to their existing codeshare agreement as part of SAS’ transition to the SkyTeam alliance. The airline joined on September 1 and follows a 20% investment from the Air France-KLM Group. Both airlines in this group are members of the SkyTeam alliance. Paul Verhagen, Chief Commercial Officer from SAS, said:
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Delta through this new codeshare agreement, enhancing travel options between Scandinavia and North America. With our new direct route from Copenhagen to Seattle, we’re strengthening connections to the Pacific Northwest offering more travel options for our passengers.
Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying
As a proud new member of SkyTeam Alliance, this collaboration offers great opportunities to provide seamless connectivity and benefits across our global network. We are excited about the possibilities and committed to delivering an elevated travel experience for our customers.”
On Delta’s end, the partnership will see SAS place its code on flights to 150 destinations in North America. These flights will depart from Delta’s hubs in Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK) and Seattle (SEA). Perry Cantarutti, Delta’s Senior Vice President Alliances said:
“As part of Delta’s mission to connect people around the world, our new partnership with SAS will strengthen our presence in Northern Europe by offering customers improved access to destinations throughout Scandinavia and a better overall flying experience.”
Delta Air Lines
- IATA/ICAO Code
-
DL/DAL
- Year Founded
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1929
- CEO
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Ed Bastian
- Country
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United States
In Europe, Delta will place its code on 50 of SAS’ flights to destinations beyond its hubs in Copenhagen (CPH), Oslo (OSL) and Stockholm (ARL). These would be in Northern Europe. The agreement will enter into force on September 25, 2024.
Photo: Photofex_AUT | Shutterstock
Recent SAS expansion in the US
Last week, SAS announced that it would be launching a new route to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) as of May 2025. The new route would operate from Copenhagen and would bring the carrier’s overall North American network to 11 destinations. The carrier had already operated between the two cities in 2009, with up to six weekly flights with an A340-300. Delta is the second-largest operator at Seattle, with 1002 weekly domestic departures in September. At the time, Anko van der Werff, President and CEO at SAS said:
“We are excited to expand our North American network with Seattle. The route from Copenhagen will provide more travel options for our customers and strengthen the connection between Scandinavia and the Pacific Northwest, a region of growing economic importance with deep Scandinavian roots.”
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
SAS’ Copenhagen to Atlanta flights began in June, incited by its preparations to switch alliances to SkyTeam. It also plans to begin flights from the Norwegian capital, Oslo, to JFK in March 2025, replacing a service to Newark (which previously fed into Star Alliance networks, particularly with United Airlines).