SAS to axe Beijing-Stockholm flight service

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) said on Feb 12 that it would suspend the Beijing-Stockholm service from May 1, 2009 due to insufficient demand. SAS had launched the service in 2007.

"Removing capacity from the long-haul fleet is vital to reduce the risk and financial exposure of SAS operations in this downturn," SAS said in a statement. The airline's Beijing-Copenhagen daily service will, however, continue operations.

SAS was the first foreign airline to cancel flights to China ever since the outbreak of the global economic crisis last year. The airline had said it would cut intercontinental capacity and start focusing more on the Nordic route.

Last week, SAS reported net losses of 6.32 billion kronor ($935 million) for 2008, in contrast to a profit of 636 million kronor in 2007.