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Dubai-Copenhagen flights boost

Dubai, October 31, 2007

SAS has launched non-stop thrice-weekly services between Dubai and Copenhagen.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), the leading carrier in Northern Europe and the fourth largest airline group in Europe, said the service from Dubai to the Danish capital is the first to directly link the UAE with Scandinavia.

The move comes as the airline targets the Middle East as a new growth market.

“There is huge potential for SAS to regionally develop further as other GCC countries such as Oman and Bahrain are also becoming popular leisure and business destinations for Nordic travellers,” said Per Moller Jensen, head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, SAS.

“The Middle East will play an integral role in our new 2011 strategy, which includes growing our international network as well as developing new concepts for both leisure and business travel. The aviation industry is changing rapidly and we want to continue to be at the forefront in terms of giving passengers the best service and the most attractive destinations.” 

The new SAS service operates from tomorrow (November 1) until the end of March next year from Dubai International Airport every Monday, Thursday and Sunday on a wide-bodied, 245-seater Airbus A340 with a three-class configuration – SAS Business, Economy Extra and Economy Class.

“This is an extremely strategic move by SAS as we are seeing passenger traffic between Scandinavia and Dubai growing at about 20 per cent annually,” said Mohammed Ahmad Bin Ghannam, General Manager, Airline Development Department, Aviation Unit, Dubai Airports.

 “We handled over 25 million passengers between January and September this year, which is a 17 per cent increase over the third quarter of 2006. We anticipate SAS will experience strong traffic from passengers flying via Dubai to other GCC countries and beyond.”

Flight SK962 departs Dubai International at 09.45 every Monday, Thursday and Sunday arriving in Copenhagen at 13.15 local time allowing adequate transfer time for onward flights. The return Copenhagen-Dubai service SK 961 takes off at 21.05 every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday arriving at Dubai International at 06.35 the following day.

 “We also offer onward connections to other regional cities by co-operating with local carriers,” said Magnus Engstrom, general manager UAE, SAS.

“Return flights to Northern Europe via Copenhagen from Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Iran can now be booked directly with SAS online or through travel agents.'

The 6 hour 30 minute flight to Copenhagen accommodates 46 passengers in SAS Business Class, 28 in Economy Extra and 171 in Economy Class. SAS Business Class is equipped with SAS Business Sleeper seats with a 170-degree decline; Economy Extra is SAS’ economy premium concept which comes in a 2-3-2 seat configuration with wider seats and increased leg space as well as video screens with audio/video-on-demand. Economy Extra passengers are entitled to check-in at Business Class counters. Economy Class also has individual video screens in all seats.

SAS recently enhanced its business class with a number of additional services to ensure simpler and hassle free travel. The new offerings include the introduction of a last-minute guaranteed seat business class fare, a new comfort kit, upgraded audio visual on-demand (AVOD) and a ‘breakfast on-the-go’ concept where passengers have the option of being served onboard or departing with their breakfast.
 
SAS Scandinavian Airlines is the largest airline in Northern Europe and the national carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

SAS International is the long-haul operator of SAS with 1.4 million passengers per year. Its fleet consists of 11 Airbus 330/340 which serves 10 destinations: New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Seattle, Bangkok, Beijing, Tokyo, Dubai, Copenhagen and Stockholm.

 Connected to over 203 destinati




Tags: SAS | Scandinavian Airlines |

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