SAS officially joins SkyTeam
By Sharon Petersen Tue Sep 3, 2024
SAS has officially become a member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance, marking a significant development for the airline and expanding SkyTeam's worldwide reach.
SAS passengers will now have greater access to over 1,060 destinations within SkyTeam’s extensive global network, opening up new opportunities in regions like Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. SAS already has codeshare agreements with Air France-KLM, with additional codeshare opportunities expected with other SkyTeam partners in the near future.
Why has SAS changed to the SkyTeam Alliance from Star Alliance?
Like many airlines, SAS faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately leading to its entry into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
SAS recently announced that it has reached a "major milestone" in its Chapter 11 proceedings, a key part of which is an agreement that gives Air France-KLM approximately 19.9% ownership of SAS, with an option to increase its stake to a controlling share after two years. This development has paved the way for SAS to join the SkyTeam Alliance, of which Air France is a founding member.
Frequent Flyer and Status Match
SAS EuroBonus Silver members will now be recognized as SkyTeam Elite, while Gold and Diamond members will receive the elevated status of Elite Plus, offering them premium services across the SkyTeam network.
With SAS’s inclusion, SkyTeam becomes the only airline alliance to serve both the southernmost and northernmost commercial airports globally: Ushuaia in Argentina and Svalbard in Norway. This addition further enhances SkyTeam's presence in key global markets, particularly in Scandinavia, providing stronger connections via the main hubs of Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo.
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