SAS plots major growth in Copenhagen and a new JFK nonstop to Oslo
The shake-up continues at Scandinavian Airlines following its official entrance into the SkyTeam alliance.
A day after the Stockholm-based carrier announced new nonstop service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), SAS announced a major expansion of its Copenhagen hub, along with two new North American routes.
On Wednesday, SAS unveiled 15 new routes from its Copenhagen Airport (CPH) base, with more than a dozen new flights to European cities like Krakow, Poland; Madrid; Budapest, Hungary; Valencia, Spain; and Bucharest, Romania. Plus, it’s upping its service to additional short-haul European cities such as Prague, Berlin and Helsinki by 15%.
It's just one part of a plan to boost Copenhagen's presence as a global hub and a gateway for travelers connecting to destinations beyond Europe, SAS said Wednesday.
But the carrier is also bolstering its transatlantic schedule — and not just in Copenhagen.
The airline said Wednesday that it will launch new service in late March from Oslo Airport (OSL) in Norway to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The nonstop service will run between March 30 and Oct. 25 as part of the carrier’s summer 2025 schedule.
SkyTeam hub shift
This is the latest maneuver SAS has made to make its network — including in the U.S. — more friendly to SkyTeam connections after the carrier joined the alliance earlier this month following a partial acquisition by Air France-KLM.
You can already see the shift. The below map from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows SAS’ planned summer 2025 U.S. routes to the hubs of SkyTeam partner Delta Air Lines.
Here’s what the comparably more limited map looked like in the summer of 2024 — a year that already saw the carrier add Delta's home, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), to its network.
It’s worth watching whether the carrier makes any additional shifts from Star Alliance hubs to SkyTeam ones in the near future.
“With the recent entry into SkyTeam, SAS is focusing on global reach and will continue to develop Copenhagen as its main hub for international travel,” SAS said in a statement Wednesday.
New JFK service
The new JFK-to-OSL route will give the New York airport a second nonstop to Norway's capital city. Norse Atlantic Airways currently flies the route.
From the outset in late March, SAS will fly the JFK-to-Oslo route with one of its narrow-body Airbus A321neo jets, according to the carrier’s booking channels.
It’s worth noting that SAS does already service JFK with nonstop flights to CPH.
Meanwhile, it currently serves nearby Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), a Star Alliance hub, with nonstop flights to OSL, CPH and Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN).
Copenhagen growth
In addition to its JFK nonstop service, SAS announced an additional new North American flight for summer 2025. Starting March 30, the carrier will fly from CPH to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ).
This broader scaling up of SAS’ footprint in Copenhagen comes as the city — and, more broadly, the country of Denmark — has seen increased air traffic of late.
Service to Denmark growing
In August, the number of seats on transatlantic flights to Denmark exceeded any other country in Europe, Cirium reported during a recent briefing.
Seats between the U.S. and Denmark this summer were up about 24% versus a year ago — and by 15% over 2019 levels, Cirium data shows.
Related: Villa Copenhagen review: Scandinavian style in a Danish landmark
Improved intra-Europe business offerings
On top of bolstering its flight offerings next summer, SAS is reportedly planning to up its game in the front of the aircraft.
On short-haul European flights, there will be an improved business-class offering featuring an empty middle seat, plus enhanced service both on the ground and in the air.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.