SAS - Scandinavian Airlines

[dmrodgers]

Fantastic news for LBA, SAS launching twice weekly service to Copenhagen commencing 31 March 2014.

http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/a ... copenhagen

 

[Aviador]

Re: SAS

I don't think anybody saw that one coming.

Timetable starting 31st March 2014:

Monday

Leeds Bradford-Copenhagen: Departs 17:20 arrives 20:00
Copenhagen-Leeds Bradford: Departs 16:00 arrives 16:50

Friday

Leeds Bradford-Copenhagen: Departs 20:20 arrives 23:00
Copenhagen-Leeds Bradford: Departs 19:00 arrives 19:50

Anybody have any idea what aircraft they will use?

 

[yorkie40]

Re: SAS

Nice to hear so good news so much doom n gloom about

 

[muscleboy33]

Re: SAS

I agree never saw that one comming!! :rockon:

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Re: SAS

Precisely what LBA needs - more out of towners to bolster the quieter periods. I do hope that Friday schedule changes slightly though as it looks very iffy to me. The timings are, possibly, not the best for business or connectivity and the starting price is, perhaps, a little on the steep side for leisure - from the British perspective, at least.

What is clear from the press release is that SAS are targeting inbound passengers to places such as York. With the current lack of any link to York, would this help restore a link? The success of inbound tourism would depend in no small part to the connectivity with York, particularly as the flight arrives so late in the day.

 

[rmac]

Re: SAS

From what I know of Copenhagen, my sister in law lives there and we have been on many occasions- the Danes will love Leeds and York and it is easy to see how SAS are targeting Danes as inbound to Yorkshire. Danes speak fluent English, they see Britain on the news, etc, they will love the countryside and the shopping in Leeds and York too will be a big hit. My sister in law and her husband love coming to Scotland for the countryside, shopping, restuarants, etc and they have also toured places such as York and the Dales and speak highly of the experience.
Of course Copenhagen, for Brits is a great destination especially in the summer, and I think the service will be well used. Maybe a 3rd midweek service will help (businessmen) and slightly better timings too but you have to start somewhere. Again -its up to Yorkshire folk - use it and keep it.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Re: SAS

Great post that rmac.

I recently flew back to England from Oslo and it was, roughly, 70% Norwegians on board. There is no doubt that a successful foray into the Scandinavian market will involve an amount of two way traffic.

With regards the aircraft that could operate the service, the flights are not available to book as yet. One would assume the CRJ will be used but, personally, I would love to see the 737-600.

 

[empire]

Re: SAS

CR9's will operate the route.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Re: SAS

Pleased to see that SAS has associated itself with LBA, let's hope familiarity will bring an improved schedule.

Looking at the schedule, this is definitely not going to appeal to business travellers who would typically only spend less than a week away on business, nor, unless very lucky with timings will it generate any interlining on SAS's long haul or regional services.

Scandinavia is an area that is already blitzed from MAN, so realistically this is where business travelers will chose to fly from, even HUY has daily flights.

I think the only scope for the 2 x weekly from LBA is going to be tourists- so maybe it only a summer schedule.

Ideally of course SAS would start daily flights, giving LBA the possibility of a third hub to connect through with through ticketing.

Anyway, it's a positive start.

 

[User0001]

Re: SAS

Fantastic news for LBA.

A Scandinavia link has been long sought after and now the foot is in the door, lets hope LBA can capitalise on this.

It was certainly unexpected, seems SAS is sealing the whole of the north of England up now.

 

[a300boy]

Re: SAS

Funny old day today ! First we are told Monarch are pulling out which now seems not to be the case and then we are told we are gaining a new service with a national airline. Happy Day for me !

 

[Aviador]

Re: SAS

Good point, if we can keep PIA after their fleet renewal programme we'll have four flag carriers.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: SAS

Great news about having SAS starting a new route to Copenhagen from Leeds/Bradford in March next year. The news took me totally by surprise today and I bet other members will say the same. Its a the route that was last operated by bmi regional using a Embrear 145 and one that we all know that the airport has been targeting for a long while.

I've got to admit the scheduled timings are not perfect but the aircraft size with them opting to use as a CRJ900 is! This route will hopefully drive inbound tourism with people who may want to visit Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. I'm sure I've read before that Leeds United have a strong Scandinavia support base whilst we also have Arla foods based in Leeds which has strong Scandinavia business links. Also outbound wise I think people might now be tempted into taking a short break or maybe weekend away in Copenhagen now they have direct flights from there door step, even though its an expensive place to visit!

I understand that both flights will allow for one-stop connections to be made available to destinations including Aalborg, Aarhus, Bergen, Billund, Gothenburg, Helsinki, Oslo, Stavanger, Stockholm and Turku seen as SAS have late night flights from Copenhagen which arrive into there final destination long after midnight. It will also mean the return of the star Alliance Group back to Leeds/Bradford after a 2 year break. So there maybe even more choice of Long Haul destinations to choose connect onto as well.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Re: SAS

Connections are not really going to draw pax to the flight, they can fly to a number of destinations in Scandinavia direct from MAN and what's more they are not fixed to having to stay Mon-Fri or Fri-Mon.

What's more, we are looking at leisure pax here- sdo the fare's will have to be very low.

Having thought about this I think SAS are setting themselves up for a fall with only two flights a week: No business pax, no connection pax and low fares.

My heart wants this service to succeeed but my head tells me that it simply cannot

 

[Aviador]

Re: SAS

Do you not think the flight times are more to suit passengers coming from Copenhagen rather than to suit passengers at this end? This isn't necessarily a bad thing if they can be more successful at bringing Scandinavian passengers to Yorkshire, something BMI Regional weren't particularly good at.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Re: SAS

I would say they probably do suit pax from CPH more, but it's pretty marginal. I can't see how SAS can make this work with 2 flights a week when BMI couldn't with far more flights each week.

I just don't see how 2 flights a week are going to provide SAS with any meaningful impression of how traffic from Leeds is likely to increase, in oher words as a 'toe in the water' its not representative.

Everyone wants new flag carriers to start operating into LBA, why? because they can offer through tickets to destinations not served by direct flights from LBA- including access to long haul connections.

I just cant see people organising their trip to fit around 2 flights a week from LBA when they have multiple flights per day from MAN, and as I said before you can fly to HEL, CPH, BLL, OSL and possibly even others direct from MAN, so why would you travel via CPH from LBA?

I would repeat, I want to see SAS as a permanent fixture, but I dont see waht they are trying to achieve with only 2 flights a week.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Re: SAS

The timings are set up exactly for inbound leisure to Yorkshire. Furthermore, the press release nods its head very firmly in that direction.

As has been mentioned, Copenhagen is an expensive place. The danes are richer by comparison and England is an attractive destination for them so flight cost is not necessarily the biggest issue.

I wonder also if Lonely Planet's decision to make Yorkshire the number 3 region in the world to visit in 2014 has anything to do with it?

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Re: SAS

Also re BMI - they could not make anything work.

 

[Seasider]

Re: SAS

I must admit that I am a little mystified that it is only twice a week, so it must be aimed at the Danes coming over to visit our beautiful county. There will be a bonus for the many Danish LUFC fans but the season will be practically over by time the flights start.
It is still very good news, especially if it is going to be CRJ 900 operating.

 

[rmac]

Re: SAS

I would not necessarily agree that Copenhagen is an expensive place to visit, eating out yes, but in general prices are much the same as here. Buying cars and consumer goods etc tends to be more expensive as taxes are a bit higher but family members over there think we are better off over here! Danes will enjoy entertainment, eating out etc over here.