11.12.1997
SAS to start service to London-Stansted
Effective March 29, 1998 SAS Scandinavian Airlines will provide additional nonstop capacity between the London area and Stockholm-Arlanda through the introduction of two daily flights serving London-Stansted. SAS will use 105-seat DC-9-41 aircraft for its London-Stansted operation. From Stockholm there will be convenient connections to Swedish domestic destinations as well as to the Baltic states, Moscow and Finland.
The modern London-Stansted airport provides an opportunity for SAS to expand its London operations. In 1996 the airport, which is located only 40 minutes by express train north of the City of London, handled five million passengers. The large majority (70 per cent) travelled on scheduled services, which emphasizes how London-Stansted – initially a charter airport -- has developed into a viable alternative to London-Heathrow for business travellers.
Starting March 29, SAS will offer a morning and an evening departure from London-Stansted seven days a week. The morning flight will leave at 0920, arriving Stockholm at 1230. The evening flight departs at 1830 and will arrive in Stockholm at 2140. SAS will offer automated check-in terminals at London-Stansted in addition to the normal separate check-in desks for its EuroClass and Tourist Class passengers. EuroClass passengers will have the added convenience of "Fast Track" passport and security control facilities. A EuroClass lounge for the exclusive use of SAS’s business class passengers will be available close to the departure gate.
The morning flight from Stockholm will leave at 0700 and arrive London-Stansted at 0830. In the afternoon the departure time from Stockholm is at 1600, arriving at 1730.
"We have wanted to expand our London operations for some time to meet the needs of business travellers. London-Stansted will enable us to offer them a very efficient and comfortable product," said Owe L�wenborg, SAS’s General Manager for the UK, Ireland and Iceland. "The airport is ideal for our expansion, considering its excellent facilities and easy access from the City of London – an important market for SAS – as well as a wide catchment area in East Anglia and the South-East. London-Stansted is a very good complement to our Heathrow operation, which cannot be expanded for the time being due to slots limitations."
With the launch of its London-Stansted service, SAS’s London-Stockholm operation will increase from five flights a day to seven.
Further information:
Karin Str�mberg, VP, Network Management or
Per S�derblom, SAS Route Market Development, tel. +46-8-797.2105
