Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), based in Copenhagen Kastrup, has officially declared its plan to leave Star Alliance by the end of August 2024, marking a significant shift in its alliance affiliations by joining Skyteam on September 1, 2024. This strategic move comes on the heels of a partial acquisition by Air France-KLM, signaling a new phase in the airline’s operations and partnerships.
In an effort to ensure a smooth transition for its passengers, SAS has assured that all current benefits linked to the SAS EuroBonus program will be honored up to August 31, 2024. Following this, the airline has confirmed that most Skyteam member carriers will start recognizing these benefits from September onwards. The integration into Skyteam involves advanced negotiations aimed at forging close commercial relationships with its member carriers, highlighting the airline’s commitment to maintaining a high level of service and connectivity for its customers.
Upon joining Skyteam, SAS will be noted as the alliance’s twentieth member and the eighth within Europe, expanding the network and strengthening the presence of Skyteam in the region. Conversely, Star Alliance will continue with 25 member airlines, including nine that are based in Europe, after SAS’s departure.
This alliance transition is a key component of SAS’s broader restructuring strategy, which has seen Air France-KLM acquiring a 19.9% stake in the Scandinavian airline. With a clear path laid out for Air France-KLM to potentially increase its share to a majority stake by the end of 2025, the move reflects a deepening of ties between SAS and the founding member of Skyteam. This shift not only represents a significant change in the airline alliance landscape but also reinforces SAS’s ongoing efforts to adapt and thrive in the competitive aviation industry.
