SAS further strengthens its long term position in Finland
12/21/2011 6:00 AM EST
SAS further strengthens its long term position in Finland
Blue1: new nonstop routes to Scandinavia planned in 2012
In line with the 4Excellence strategy with focus on the Nordic region,
SAS further strengthens its long term position in Finland. In 2012,
Blue1 plans to open a large number of new nonstop routes from Finland
directly to Scandinavia to complement SAS' and Star Alliance's route
networks and with that strengthen SAS network at Stockholm Arlanda and
Copenhagen Kastrup.
Routes to Copenhagen are being planned from for example Kittilä, Kuopio,
Lappeenranta, Oulu, Turku and Vaasa as well as to Stockholm from
Kokkola, Oulu and Pori.
Blue1's CEO Stefan Wentjärvi comments: "The growth we are undertaking to
Copenhagen and Stockholm is part of the strategy that was decided
earlier this year when SAS informed about the phase out of the remaining
five Avro RJ-85 aircraft and the rationalization of the fleet to Boeing
717. The change means that Blue1 can continue to reduce the unit cost
and further improve its competitiveness."
"The new non-stop routes from Finland to Copenhagen and Stockholm will
provide both business and leisure passengers with a qualitative and cost
efficient product and a new way to travel with excellent new connections
that save time and money for passengers", says Wentjärvi.
Copenhagen's airport Kastrup is the Nordic region's largest airport with
over 21 million passengers annually with connections to 140 destinations
across the world. Stockholm's airport Arlanda, with 17 million
passengers, offers connections to over 100 destinations across the
world.
Blue1 already flies to Copenhagen from both Helsinki and Tampere and to
Stockholm from Helsinki, Tampere, Vaasa and Turku.
For further information, please contact:
Tom Christides, VP Communications & Public Affairs, Blue1, +358 40
7523131
SAS Group Investor Relations
SAS discloses this information pursuant to the Swedish Securities Market
Act and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. The
information was provided for publication on 21 December 2011, at 12.00
a.m. CET.