SINGAPORE, 18 February 2026: SAS is expanding its intercontinental offering for the winter timetable 2026/27 with three new long-haul routes from Copenhagen to Dubai, Phuket, and Krabi.
The additions strengthen the airline’s winter portfolio, responding to growing demand for travel to the Middle East and Asia while further reinforcing Copenhagen’s role as a global hub for Scandinavia and Northern Europe.
The return to Dubai — the airline’s first operation to the UAE since 2011 — marks a significant milestone in the airline’s long-haul development.
Dubai is one of the world’s most dynamic cities and a prominent international centre for business, tourism, and innovation. Its world-class resorts, cultural scene, and year-round warm climate make it a compelling destination for both leisure and business travellers.
Thailand also receives a major boost, with more than 75% additional capacity compared with last winter. With the introduction of Phuket and Krabi, SAS becomes the only airline offering scheduled, nonstop commercial services from Scandinavia to three destinations in Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket, and Krabi.
The routes have been carefully scheduled to offer convenient timings to and from Dubai and maximise connecting opportunities from Europe to Phuket and Krabi.
“Dubai represents an important market for SAS, and at the same time, we are proud to introduce Phuket and Krabi to our long-haul network,” says SAS Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Paul Verhagen. “Re-establishing our presence in Dubai allows us to offer our customers direct access to one of the world’s most exciting cities, while the addition of Phuket and Krabi provides nonstop connections to Thailand’s most sought-after holiday destinations.
“Together, these routes strengthen Copenhagen as a global hub for Scandinavia and Northern Europe and expand the choices available to our customers for both business and leisure travel.”
A350 operations increase
The airline will deploy A350 aircraft to increase capacity on key routes across Asia, the Middle East, and North America. The winter expansion is supported by the addition of two new Airbus A350 aircraft, enabling a 34% increase in A350 operations across the network. This added capacity enables SAS to scale its long-haul presence significantly.
Capacity will increase across key destinations, with 70% more seats to Boston, 20% more to San Francisco, and 10% more to Chicago.
In Asia, SAS will further strengthen its long-haul presence through coordinated increases in frequency and seat capacity, including more than 50% growth to Seoul (ICN), 40% to Tokyo Haneda (HND), and 15% o Bangkok (BKK), alongside the new nonstop connections to Phuket and Krabi.
(Source: SAS)
