SAS Expands Copenhagen Hub With Seven Intercontinental Routes for Summer 2027

Scandinavian Airlines has unveiled its preliminary flight schedule for the summer 2027 season, centering on a major expansion of long-haul and regional capacity out of its primary global hub at Copenhagen Airport. The carrier plans to increase flying on seven intercontinental routes while adjusting frequencies and extending operating seasons across more than 20 destinations throughout Europe and Scandinavia.

The summer program is designed to reinforce Copenhagen as Northern Europe's primary intercontinental transfer gateway. The announcement comes as SAS continues to realign its international network and optimize fleet utilisation following its transition to the SkyTeam global airline alliance.

Increased Frequencies to North America and Asia

Under the revised summer schedule, SAS will expand several key long-haul services departing Copenhagen from six weekly flights to daily operations. These include nonstop connections to Tokyo Haneda, Seoul Incheon, and Washington Dulles. Service between Copenhagen and Atlanta will also step up from five flights weekly to a daily frequency, improving transfer options across North America through alliance partner Delta Air Lines.

Departures between Copenhagen and Seattle will rise from four to five weekly frequencies. The expanded schedules provide additional seat capacity on high-demand transatlantic business corridors while giving leisure travelers more itinerary options during peak summer travel periods.

Upgraded Aircraft and Expanding Network

In addition to frequency increases, SAS will introduce larger widebody aircraft on selected high-density trunk routes. The carrier plans to deploy the Airbus A350-900 on services linking Copenhagen with Chicago O'Hare and Mumbai, replacing the smaller Airbus A330-300. The deployment on the Mumbai route marks its first full summer season of operations, bolstering connections between Northern Europe and India.

The airline's summer program also incorporates two new seasonal European destinations departing Copenhagen. SAS will launch a twice-weekly service to Ljubljana from 25 June to 6 August 2027, utilizing a 122-seat Embraer E195 regional jet. A weekly service linking Copenhagen with Menorca in Spain will run from 30 June to 4 August 2027, operated with a 180-seat Airbus A320neo. Both new routes opened for passenger booking on 10 November 2026.

European Additions and Regional Feed

To support the expanded long-haul schedule, SAS is strengthening its feeder network connecting regional Scandinavian airports into Copenhagen. Flights between Copenhagen and Stockholm Arlanda will increase from 15 daily departures to up to 18 daily services, while services to Aarhus will expand from four to five daily flights.

Elsewhere across the European network, weekly departures from Copenhagen to Geneva will rise from 13 to 19, Barcelona will grow from 10 to 13, and Venice will expand from eight to 11. Additional frequencies will also be placed on services to Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Porto, Bilbao, and Catania. From Stockholm, capacity will rise on routes to northern Sweden, including Luleå and Kiruna, alongside additional frequencies to Rome, Milan, and Madrid. In Norway, SAS will expand departures from Oslo to Manchester, Brussels, and Rome, while service between Stavanger and Trondheim will grow to four daily flights.

The Engineering and Fleet Perspective

The upgauging of transatlantic and Asian trunk routes to the Airbus A350-900 reflects the ongoing restructuring of SAS's widebody fleet. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the A350 delivers improved payload-range capability and lower seat-mile fuel burn compared to earlier-generation widebodies, allowing SAS to optimize cargo intake and premium passenger capacity on competitive ultra-long-haul routes.

"Our focus for summer 2027 is on adding capacity where we see clear demand," said Erik Westman, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at SAS. "For travelers, more frequent flights mean greater flexibility in choosing when to travel and more options for connecting to their next destination."