Three classes on SAS's long-distance routes will offer greater comfort and flexib

Three classes on SAS's long-distance routes will offer greater comfort and flexibility In conjunction with the introduction of SAS's new long-distance aircraft this autumn, the Airbus A340/330, SAS will be implementing three classes onboard its long-distance routes: Business Class, Economy Extra - a new, more flexible economy class - and Economy Class. "Going to a system with three classes will result in significantly improved comfort and service for passengers compared with today, and will provide our customers with the flexibility they demand," says Ulf Ingnäs, Director, Product Management Inflight. In recent years, a clear trend has emerged within the aviation industry - many business travelers choose to fly in economy class even on longer journeys. Our customers have requested something in-between business and economy class and Economy Extra will offer just that - a flexible economy ticket offering greater comfort and a better working conditions than economy class, priced somewhat higher, but with otherwise the same overall level of service. With a three class system, several price alternatives will be available. Economy Extra will cost about 65 percent of the normal business fare. Business Class Full fare passengers will find a completely updated environment in terms of space, comfort, service, entertainment and opportunities for working. The Business Class section has been designed to offer generous amounts of space, including for carry-on baggage, as well as a closet. The finest in tasteful Scandinavian design will be incorporated, including both wood detailing and the color scheme itself. Comfortable, redesigned seats offer ergonomically correct utility and convey a sense of good design. Designed by Bertone in Italy in cooperation with Stockholm Design Lab in Sweden and manufactured by Recaro in Germany, the seats have a completely new look. They include a phone, PC Power, individual display screens in the armrest, numerous channels for movies, music and games, a practical reading light and more. Space between the seats has been increased by six centimeters, the recline angle is more comfortable for the back and the distance between seats has increased to 1.25 meters. At the very front of the cabin are six Sleeper seats that make it possible to sleep comfortably during long flights. We know that passenger comfort onboard is influenced by clean lavatories, and this is an area that SAS has made a serious effort. We are already known within the industry for the windows in our toilets, for the generous amount of space and for our attention to detail. Elegant and Scandinavian Practical! World Class Lavatories. Our service for full fare passengers will offer choices and be individually designed as much as possible. SAS's award-winning concept for food onboard, Scandinavian World Cooking, has generated a great deal of attention. We have assembled ten of Scandinavia's foremost chefs and let them run free with their creativity and sense of quality. We only use the freshest raw materials for food onboard. We also collaborate with experts in order to offer the finest in the way of beverages. Food and drink are tastefully served on an entirely new place setting from Royal Scandinavia consisting of exclusive Scandinavian designed glassware, china and cutlery. In-between meals, a buffet will be set - including water, wine, beer and other beverages as well as fruit and an espresso machine. The buffet offers not only a variety of items to choose from, but also an opportunity to avoid sitting throughout the entire flight. Freedom to move around increases wellbeing during long flights, and as an extra service we have installed a bar in the cabin for simple back exercises. Other forms of individually tailored entertainment include movies, music channels, games, and flight information - all with the highest image and sound quality. A screen located in every seatback provides passengers with freedom to choose their entertainment, and as soon as technological developments allow, it will be possible for travelers to communicate electronically with the outside world. Economy Extra This new class of service primarily offers increased comfort in the form of specially designed chairs from Recaro. With adjustable neck supports and almost one meter to the seat in front, it is possible to sit comfortably and work during a flight, a request of many who will be choosing the new "upgraded" economy class. Passengers will find wider seats, better legroom and a PC outlet. Food and beverage service will follow the same concept as economy class. Every passenger will also have their own video screen with a rich selection of entertainment to choose from. Screens are incorporated into the back of every seat. The movies, music channels and games offered are the same as in business class. Economy Class offers value for the money and is appreciated by traditional vacation travelers, who value a low ticket price more than flexibility and are not dependant on being able to work onboard. There are no PC outlets in economy class. On the long-distance aircraft, even Economy Class will also be equipped with new, more comfortable chairs, although space will be more limited than in the other two classes. Vacation travelers especially appreciate entertainment offerings. Consequently, every passenger has been provided with an individual video screen - built into the back of every seat - offering a large selection of movies, music and games. Here, as in the two other classes, passengers will be able to follow the takeoff, flight and landing on their screens. A camera mounted in the nose of the aircraft will provide glimpses of the world outside, enhancing the entire flying experience. For more information, please contact: Ulf Ingnäs, Director, Product Management Inflight, tel +46 8 797 17 08, or +46 8 709 97 17 08 SAS CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/03/26/20010326BIT00140/bit0002.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/03/26/20010326BIT00140/bit0002.pdf