SAS has announced plans to take delivery of the first of three A321LR aircraft in September next year.
The aircraft is scheduled to enter service on the carrier’s Copenhagen-Boston route from September 18, 2020.
The aircraft will be configured for three classes, with 22 fully flat business class seats, 12 Plus (premium economy) seats, and 123 Go (economy) seats.
It will also be among the first of SAS’ aircraft to sport the carrier’s recently unveiled new livery.
Karl Sandlund, EVP and chief commercial officer, said that “The new aircraft is equipped with a service concept at par with the rest of SAS’ long-haul fleet”.
Every seat will have either power sockets or USB ports, and the aircraft will offer wifi connection throughout.
SAS said that the A321LR would provide it with the opportunity to “fill the aircraft on new routes”, as well as giving it the flexibility “to adjust to changes in the demand for new routes and destinations”.
The airline also said that when the aircraft is introduced the Copenhagen-Boston route “will become a year-round destination served on a high frequency basis”, although no further details were given on this.
SAS said that other new routes to be served by the A321LR would be gradually communicated in 2020, highlighting that that the aircraft has the range to reach the northeast US, as well as Canada, the Middle East and India from Scandinavia.
Commenting on the news Sandlund said:
“This is an entirely new aircraft type for SAS, which is incredibly well suited to the Scandinavian market and emerging travel patterns to and from the region.
“It gives SAS an opportunity to offer travellers more intercontinental routes, fewer stopovers and shorter travel times to and from Scandinavia.
“The new aircraft is equipped with a service concept at par with the rest of SAS’ long-haul fleet, offering passengers all the benefits, level of comfort and choices of our traveling classes.
“Reducing the carbon footprint in the airline industry is crucial and SAS aims to lead the way toward sustainable travel. We have set a target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent by 2030. The ongoing fleet renewal, including new long-haul aircraft, is an investment toward more sustainable aviation.”
French all business class airline La Compagnie launched transatlantic flights using the A321LR earlier this year, and Canadian carrier Air Transat is now operating A321LR services between Toronto and the UK.
Jetblue also plans to use the aircraft to operate flights between New York and London from 2021.
