SAS’ Brand New Airbus A321LR to Make Inaugural Long Haul Flight on December 22, 2021
- Joe Breitfeller
- Dec 21, 2021
- 2 min read
SAS’ first Airbus A321 Long Range (A321LR) will complete its first long-haul flight from Copenhagen to Washington D.C. on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. The aircraft will officially enter regular service on March 27, 2022.

On Tuesday (December 21, 2021), SAS announced the launch of inaugural long-haul flight for their first Airbus A321LR with service between Copenhagen and Washington D.C., which will take place on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. The aircraft will officially enter regular service on March 27, 2022. The new aircraft is configured in three classes and is part of the airline’s ongoing fleet renewal program, offering greater efficiency and reduced environmental impact. The A321LR has been specifically designed to fly longer distances compared to the standard Airbus A321neo. SAS’ new A321LR completed its first flight on December 20, 2021 with service between Copenhagen and Oslo. When the aircraft enters regular service in March 2022, it will be deployed on routes from Copenhagen to Washington D.C., Boston and New York.
In today’s announcement, SAS’ EVP & Chief Commercial Officer, Karl Sandlund, said,
“This is an entirely new aircraft type for SAS, which is incredibly well suited to the Scandinavian market and emerging travel patterns to and from the region. It gives SAS an opportunity to offer travelers more intercontinental routes, fewer stopovers, and shorter travel times to and from Scandinavia. The new aircraft is equipped with a service concept at par with the rest of SAS’ long-haul fleet, offering passengers all the benefits, level of comfort and choices of our traveling classes.
“Reducing the carbon footprint in the airline industry is crucial and SAS aims to lead the way toward sustainable travel. We have set a target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent by 2030. The ongoing fleet renewal, including new long-haul aircraft, is an investment toward more sustainable aviation.”
SAS' New Airbus A321LR (Long Range) - Courtesy SAS/Cision
The new aircraft features 22 flat Business Class, 12 Plus and 123 Go seats, for a guest capacity of 157. The quiet cabin offers three different mood light settings and hi-speed Wi-Fi, and all seats are equipped with personal IFE screens, power and USB ports.
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 a founding member of the Star Alliance, which offers an extensive global network.
Source: SAS/Cision