SAS reveals detail of new base and network at Aarhus

Representing approximately 300,000 new seats and 50 new airline positions for Scandinavia’s fifth largest metropolitan area, SAS Scandinavian Airlines announced a DKK multi-million investment in a new network from Aarhus in Denmark this morning, with newly-based aircraft and a raft of new international services.

“We are creating direct departures from Aarhus to business and holiday destinations and will continue to develop these. It is a big venture for SAS and it will help create many new jobs in and around Aarhus”, says Scandinavian’s Lars Sandahl Sørensen.

SAS will open a new daily Munich service creating an important direct link between mainland Denmark and the southern German city, which is also a major Star Alliance hub.  A new double-daily service between Aarhus and the Norwegian capital, Oslo with extensive connectivity beyond to a high number of destinations in Norway, plus a daily service to Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport.  All flights will be operated by 90-seat CRJ-900 regional jet aircraft.

With an additional significant investment in leisure services to Mediterranean areas, SAS will open a new route to Palma de Mallorca (up to two weekly flights) and will upgrade it’s Malaga route from seasonal to year-round (up to two weekly flights).  Another new route for Summer 18 will be Split in Croatia, a popular destination for Scandinavian travellers and the first direct link between Aarhus and the Adriatic hot-spot, (up to twice weekly flights).   The leisure flights will be operated by the SAS Airbus fleet.

“Munich is wonderful news”, commented David Surley – Head of Airline Relations, “this is one of our market’s top requests for both business travel necessity and direct access to the heart of Europe.  A daily service will provide exceptional convenience for both Danish travellers and for Germans coming to Aarhus as our largest European visitor market.  Combined with Oslo, Stockholm and Mediterranean destinations in both Spain and Croatia where Danes love to enjoy the sun … this is unsurpassed good news”.

Scandinavian also unveiled growth of its Aarhus-Copenhagen “air bridge” with a further increase in morning and evening frequencies, taking the core daily operation from 8 to 10 flights each way.  The short 30-minute flight between Denmark’s two largest cities is an important link for businesses and also for leisure and connecting travellers joining the wider SAS international network at its Copenhagen hub.   Domestic flights operated by a mix of CRJ-900, Airbus and ATR72 aircraft. 

Aarhus will thus provide important network contribution to the SAS route framework via all 3 Nordic hubs.  “Major development, very significant and very welcome for the Aarhus economy.  Whether you’re flying to New York one way via Copenhagen and back via Oslo, or from Hong Kong via Stockholm and back through Beijing, this linkage to all three Nordic hubs of SAS is vitally important for a fast-strengthening economy like Aarhus”, said Surley.  “Our companies and customers have huge requirement for easy travel departing direct from their doorstep.  SAS provides that convenience with great service, reliability and warm popularity among Scandinavian and international travellers”.