SAS and Icelandair to code-share on transatlantic routes

SAS and Icelandair to code-share on transatlantic routes SAS and Icelandair have agreed to start code-sharing on routes between Scandinavia and the United States operated by Icelandair and routes operated by SAS from Scandinavia to a number of destinations in Europe. This will offer passengers travelling across the Atlantic between Scandinavia and USA a wider selection of service and in some cases cut travel time by up to 2.5 hours. In addition the two companies will strengthen the links between the SAS Eurobonus and Icelandair Saga Bonus frequent flyer systems. The agreement will come in to effect on 1 November 1999 and will be fully implemented by 1 January 2000 The agreement includes code-sharing on Icelandair routes from Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm to Boston, Minneapolis and Baltimore/Washington. Similarly from Reykjavik to Hamburg, Gothenburg, Munich, Dusseldorf, Brussels, Zurich and Vienna via Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. This is an extension of the present SAS/Icelandair code-share relationship which includes routes between Reykjavik and all other Nordic capitals. The links between the SAS Eurobonus system and the Icelandair Saga Bonus will be extended. SAS Eurobonus members will earn points on all Icelandair code share flights covered by the new agreement and Saga Bonus members will earn points on all SAS routes. Members of both programs will be able to redeem their points on each carrier. Sigurdur Helgason, the President and CEO of Icelandair, said in Reykjavik today that the extended relationship is important for Icelandair and the company's customers. "Icelandair and SAS have been cooperating in Europe for a number of years. We are now extending this to cover transatlantic services and more routes in Europe. Icelandair and SAS are focusing on different routes and destinations and these two companies are therefore a good compliment to each other," said Mr. Helgason. Vagn Sörensen, Senior Vice President, Business Systems Division, at SAS said in Stockholm today that the agreement benefitted SAS in many ways. "First of all this will give SAS a competitive network between Scandinavia and the US. This agreement will also improve utilisation on the company's European network as we will see more Icelandic passengers flying SAS out of Copenhagen to their destination in Europe," said Mr. Sörensen. Icelandair was formed in 1973 with a merger of Icelandair (formed in 1937) and Loftleidir Icelandic (formed in 1944). Icelandair is a private sector company, publicly traded on the Icelandic stock market. Icelandair's route network links 17 destinations in Europe to 6 in North- America via it's unique mid Atlantic hub in Iceland. In addition to the three US gateways covered by the agreement Icelandair flies daily to New York, twice a week to Orlando and three times a week to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Icelandair caters for business and leisure traffic with a focus on routes where it has competitive advantage in terms of shorter travel time. Icelandair's hub airport is mid way on the shortest flight route between Northern Europe and the east coast of USA and Canada. In 1998 Icelandair carried 1.6 million passengers on international and domestic routes. SAS was formed in 1946. It is a consortium consisting of the three national airlines SAS Denmark A/S, SAS Norway ASA and SAS Sweden AB. SAS's main task is to offer competitive air connections within, between, to and from each of the three Scandinavian countries, partly using its own aircraft, and partly together with selected partners. In 1998, SAS flew 21.7 million passengers to 101 destinations in 31 countries. SAS had more than 1,000 daily departures and transported almost 280,000 tonnes of freight. Together with regional partners in Star Alliance, as well as other cooperation partners, SAS offers its customers over 8,000 departures every day to just over 800 destinations in 114 countries. For more information, please contact: Vagn Sörensen, Senior Vice President, Business Systems Division, SAS Tel: +46 (0)8 797 14 61 Sigurdur Helgason, President and CEO, Icelandair Tel: +354 50 50 371 CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/07/31/20030731BIT00530/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/07/31/20030731BIT00530/wkr0002.pdf