SAS axes Bangkok summer flights

Scandinavian Airlines announced earlier this week it will suspends its Bangkok service during the 2013 summer scheduled for the first time in 60 years of flying the Bangkok-Copenhagen route. From 9 April to 10 September, 2013 the Bangkok-Copenhagen flight will be cut. It will resume in the winter programme October 2013 to March 2014. In the Dutch press, SAS vice president, partners and intercontinental network, Simon Pauck Hansen, was quoted as saying: “Copenhagen – Bangkok is a route with a decidedly lower share of business travellers  when seen in comparison with most other destinations we serve. During the summer months in particular, profitability is higher on the North American destinations than on the Bangkok route.” Earlier, SAS announced it will start a new service to San Francisco, six times weekly from 8 April 2013 using an A340-300 that is currently operating on the Bangkok route. The carrier will also increase its New York service (Newark Aiprort) from daily to 10 flights a week. SAS also has to compete with the nonstop flights of its Star Alliance partner, Thai Airways International, which offers daily services to Copenhagen and Stockholm and five weekly to Oslo (daily in the winter schedule). The pressure from Middle East carriers that are expanding to Scandinavia is also a factor. Qatar Airways serves Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo, while Emirates and Gulf Air currently fly only to Copenhagen. SAS recently signed a joint venture agreement with Singapore Airlines, another Star Alilance partner for flight schedules, joint sales activities and enhanced network connectivity. The partnership is also expected to lead to growth in existing air services between Singapore and Scandinavia, and, subject to market conditions at the appropriate time, pave the way for a new route between Singapore and Stockholm. SIA currently operates three weekly flights between Singapore and Copenhagen in a codeshare partnership with SAS. From ttrweekly