Sales of tickets for SAS’ new direct flight route between Stockholm and Hong Kong are open (since 29 January.) SAS will depart five times a week from Stockholm with good connections to and from Oslo and Copenhagen, commencing on 10 September 2015. The non-stop flights will be flown by SAS brand new Airbus 330 Enhanced that will join the fleet in connection with launching the route, and the upgraded Airbus 340 with an all new modern interior.
This is the fourth SAS direct route between Scandinavia and Asia and it will offer good connections to and from central airports in Europe. SAS is the only airline that flies between Scandinavia and Hong Kong, one of the world’s busiest airports and an important hub for the region. Hong Kong is also the number one airport in the world for freight and SAS therefore anticipates big interest in freight shipments on the new route.
SAS already has direct flights between Copenhagen and Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo in Asia.
“We are launching a product that is attractive for our frequent flyers not only in terms of comfort, service onboard, an upgraded cabin with new entertainment system and WiFi, but also a very appealing timetable and ticket prices. With this new direct route to Hong Kong, SAS is continuing to deliver on its vision of making life easier for Scandinavian travelers. We are extremely proud and expectant,” said Eivind Roald, Executive Vice President Commercial, SAS.
“We are seeing increased demand for long haul flights between Scandinavia and Asia and USA. Many Scandinavian companies with regional head offices in East Asia are based in Hong Kong and we look forward to welcoming everyone onboard,” added Roald.
The flight time from Stockholm to Hong Kong is estimated at around 10 hours and 20 minutes. The timetable is also designed to enable travelers from Oslo and Copenhagen to make a smart connection to the flight with short transfer times. Ticket prices during the campaign period start at SEK 4,999.
The route will be operated by a 262 seat Airbus 330 Enhanced. However until mid October, the flight will be with either an Airbus 330 Enhanced or an Airbus 340.
In February SAS launched the new SAS Airbus A330 on flights between Copenhagen and Newark with a new design, new seats, new infotainment system and onboard WiFi.
This heralds the launch of SAS’s investment in its long haul fleet in which seven existing aircraft are being updated and new aircraft will enter service from fall 2015.
The changes are as follows:
– Cabin upgrade on seven Airbus A330/A340s
– Four new Airbus A330-300s to be delivered in 2015 and 2016
– Eight Airbus A350-900s to be delivered from 2018 onwards with an option on an additional six
SAS’ new cabin offers: SAS Go, SAS Plus, SAS Business
“We are delighted to now be able to present our ultramodern cabin. It is a huge boost for SAS and will give our customers a totally new in flight experience. The new interior is designed to meet the needs of our frequent flyers and substantially strengthens our customer offer,” says Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO of SAS.
The materials and color scheme in the new cabins have been chosen to create a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. The seating in SAS Go and SAS Plus is designed with good storage to create extra space. All seats in SAS Business have direct access to aisles and fold flat as sleeper seats. The bedding comes from Hästens, the oldest bed manufacturer in Sweden, to ensure passengers enjoy a high class sleeping experience. The aircraft has a new on-demand entertainment system with HD screens and WiFi in all classes.
Hong Kong facts:
- The number one airport in the world for freight and the route is expected to attract big interest for freight.
- The most popular destination in Asia and had previously lacked a direct route from Scandinavia.
- From 1992 to 1999, SAS had direct flights between Hong Kong and Copenhagen.
