SAS direct Malaga service opens: 4th new destination from Aarhus in 2017
Spain joins Czech Republic, Greece, Poland and the Netherlands on AAR's new route list
Aarhus Airport yesterday welcomed the opening of service by Scandinavian Airlines between Aarhus and Malaga, with its new weekly Sunday departure in Summer 17 being the first time SAS has connected the two cities. Malaga is one of the most popular sunshine destinations for Danes: the Costa del Sol is fast becoming a destination of rich cultural appeal and synergy, while Aarhus is 2017’s European Capital of Culture.
David Surley, Aarhus Airport’s Head of Airline Relations welcomed the inaugural take-off, saying “it is always great to see mainland Danish customers rushing to take-up important and greatly needed new international flights. SAS is the strongest of brands in the Aarhus area for business customers, so the addition of highly sought after leisure destinations is very welcome indeed and we knew Malaga would be popular. Our first A320 departure, as expected, being fully booked!”
Malaga is the 4th new international destination taking-off from Denmark’s second largest city this year, following launch of service by Czech Airlines to Prague and two new tour operator destinations, Sivota and Ithaca in Greece, while Aarhus will also welcome new direct service to Poland and the Netherlands from the winter timetable, with Ryanair opening twice-weekly service to Gdansk and three-weekly to Eindhoven.
Passenger numbers to international leisure destinations have climbed 10% year on year and the sharp growth is expected to continue as new services continue to take flight, the new 4 x weekly Prague operaion recording high load factors and a general reflection of the unprecented growth in Scandinavia’s fifth largest metropolitan area. Denmark’s fastest growing city is experiencing significant economic development and urban expansion with high inward migration, high birth rates and dramatic corporate growth and inward investment.
“This is just a great time for Aarhus”, said Surley, “businesses and industry sectors in which Aarhus is strategically important such as wind energy, engineering, food science and the health sector, are very much in high growth phase. A very young, exceptionally highly skilled workforce is driving a high inward migrationrate and “baby boom”, the city is having to expand quickly with infrastructure to accommodate. Everything from Europe’s largest hospital to a new light-rail system, growth at the Port of Aarhus, even accelerating cruise ship traffic is deliveri ng an unprecedented civic growth phase”.