SAS announced Friday that their first of three A321LRs will enter service on September 18, 2020 on the long-haul Copenhagen-Boston route.
The economics of deploying a fuel-efficient narrow body aircraft on long-haul routes it too attractive to ignore. SAS announced yesterday that when they receive the first of three Airbus A321 LRs on order, it will be deployed on the Copenhagen-Boston route. Like the rest of SAS’ long-haul fleet, the aircraft will be configured with three classes of service. The new A321 LR will have 22 Business, 12 Plus and 123 Go (economy) seats, for a total capacity of 157. In Friday’s announcement, SAS’ EVP and 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.”
In terms of environmental sustainability, Mr. Sandlund continued,
“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.”
The Airbus A321 LR offers a carbon footprint around 15-18 percent smaller than previous generation aircraft. Customers can purchase flights on the Copenhagen-Boston route on the new aircraft starting November 20, 2019, for flights from September 18, 2020. The aircraft has the range to fly from Scandinavia to the U.S Northeast and Canada as well as other destinations such as the Middle East and India. SAS will announce additional A321 LR routes throughout 2020.
Source: SAS