Originally Posted by
MrCharming
So they clearly want fully integrate SAS into the gsoup including the JV on TATL. Only a matter of time before it’s full on Flying Blue then. On a different note you’d assume Korean Air would open a regular route to CPH or SAS to Seoul. Otherwise we’re pretty screwed when travelling east. I’d absolutely hate having to fly to AMS or CDG first for a 2 stopper to a lot of the APAC destinations. That would be an absolute showstopper.
Unfortunately I think that's what you're going to see...a lot of long-haul traffic routed through AMS or CDG at the expense of CPH and ARN.
SAS' network to Asia is only a shadow of what it once was, and this deal isn't going to help in that respect.
The other issue is that both LOT and Finnair have built up their East Asian business. Even if the goal was to build up CPH's connectivity to Asia following the AF/KL deal, SAS would have a hard time trying to compete with two nearby major hubs within its own group (CDG and AMS), as well as Finnair at HEL and LOT at WAW.
Of course with the Russian airspace situation many East Asian routes aren't very viable for European carriers anyway and the longer travel times aren't appealing for passengers.