The new contract will cover three summer and three winter seasons through 2024 with an option for a further extension through 2026. The partnership with Apollo is SAS’ largest charter contract ever and is worth SEK 3.4 billion (US $408 million) over the first three years.
On Thursday (January 28, 2021), SAS announced an extension of their charter contract partnership with Apollo in a record three year deal worth SEK 3.4 billion (US $408 million). The contract covers three summer and winter seasons through 2024 with an option for a further extension of two years through 2026. SAS will remain Apollo’s main charter partner from Scandinavia for the duration of the contract, with the carrier flying Apollo customers from 24 destinations across Sweden, Denmark and Norway to 51 European cities. In Thursday’s announcement, SAS’ Vice President – Global Sales, Markus Ek, said,
“We are incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership and thrilled to have signed the new contract with Apollo. The charter partnership is a key part of our strategy to seasonally adapt our capacity and the new contract with Apollo is an acknowledgement that SAS is a highly valued business partner. As vaccinations increase in numbers, we look forward to being able to travel more freely yet again.”
Also commenting on the record contract extension, DER Touristik Nordic AB’s CEO – Northern Europe, Leif Vase Larsen, added,
“Here at Apollo, we see a bright future and we’re convinced that travel will start to pick up again soon. It therefore feels like a very positive step forward to have signed a contract with SAS which will secure our partnership for the coming years. SAS’ focus on sustainable travel, reliable deliveries and many weekend departures means that Apollo can safely focus on doing what we do best: creating the very best holiday experiences for our customers.”
SAS will fly many of the charter flights with brand new Airbus A320s with the airline’s new interior design and livery. Over the last few years, the company has renewed their fleet, replacing older models with new aircraft featuring quieter and more fuel efficient engines, thereby reducing CO2 emissions. Over the past year, SAS has implemented numerous health and safety protocols to ensure the well being of guests and team members throughout the journey.
SAS is the leading airline in Scandinavia, normally carrying over 30 million passengers annually from its main hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm to 125 destinations in Europe, the US and Asia (pre-pandemic figures). The company has targeted a reduction in carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2025 compared to 2005 levels and hopes to transition to 100% biofuel for domestic flights by 2030. SAS also offers ground handling services, technical maintenance and cargo services. The carrier is also a founding member of the Star Alliance, which offers an extensive global network.
Source: SAS