SAS is undergoing a transformation as it transitions into the SkyTeam Alliance and repositions itself at home and abroad. Simple Flying recently sat down with the company's CCO, Paul Verhagen, to learn more about the airline's US expansion, new partnerships, and Copenhagen Hub. SAS was the first European Airline to serve Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in 1966 and will return to the Pacific Northwest Airport next summer. The link is set to capitalize on the airport's status as a hub for fellow SkyTeam member Delta Air Lines, which recently launched a codeshare with the Scandinavian flag carrier. When the Airbus A350 flights launch on May 21st, they will mark the carrier's 11th destination in North America. The reintroduction of Seattle-Tacoma follows the launch of flights from Copenhagen to Atlanta, which has already seen bookings representing load factors of over 90%. Naturally, the route serves to connect passengers from Delta's busiest hub in the US to almost 40 European cities via Copenhagen, including key destinations such as Berlin, Helsinki, Milan, and Zurich. SAS has long served as the flag carrier for the countries of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. However, following the completion of its successful restructuring process, the Danish State is the only country that remains a principal owner, alongside private investors Castlelake, Lind Invest, and Air France-KLM. Story has more.<br/>
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A former flight attendant at Delta Air Lines has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging he was fired in retaliation for supporting a unionization effort and for speaking out after enduring “sexually assaultive touching” during training. Aryasp Nejat was fired by Delta in August. In a complaint filed late last month, his attorneys argued he is “one of the latest casualties” of an anti-union campaign waged by the airline. “Delta themselves, through their own policies, encourage an open door policy. They encourage employees to bring up concerns,” Nejat, 24, told the Guardian. “They explicitly say that they don’t tolerate Discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and they want us to engage in constructive dialogue. But then, when I made my comments in protest of their anti-union campaign, in protest of the harassment that I and another flight attendant suffered, the company retaliated against me.” A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines said: “Delta does not tolerate retaliation or harassment of any kind.” Multiple labor unions including the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the Teamsters, announced a bid two years ago to unionize non-union employees at Delta Airlines. Currently the airline only has a union representing pilots at the company and a union representing dispatchers, unlike other major airlines, where most workers are predominantly union represented. Delta has faced calls from Congress to remain neutral in the face of such campaigns. It has not.<br/>
Air France-KLM Group identifies Korea as its next major revenue area in Asia, driven by a significant increase in demand from young independent travelers seeking European routes following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a senior executive at the European airline. Boris Darceaux, general manager for the airline’s Korea, Japan and New Caledonia business, described the Korean market as “more than promising” due to the trendy nature of local customers. “One of the remarkable difference and characteristics of the Korean market is that it shows a significantly high proportion of young free independent travelers, compared to other Asian markets such as Japan,” he told The Korea Times. He picked the remarkable purchasing power of Generation MZ — which encompasses Millennials and Generation Z — as a key driver for growth in the Korean market. “Generation MZ is becoming the primary consumer group in Korea,” he said. “That’s why Korean travelers are very trendy, creating and leading the global travel trend. Starting from last year, a trend has emerged among Korean travelers where they are willing to spend more on leisure activities, leading to an increase in customers seeking premium services.” Reflecting on the demand, the airline introduced its new business class seats for Korean travelers last year. They are designed with features including full flat, full access and full privacy, according to the executive. KLM also introduced its new “world business class” seats this year for travelers on a route between Incheon and Amsterdam, giving more options for consumers seeking more premium in-flight services. Air France-KLM also left open the possibility of expanding its routes from Incheon to other major European cities.<br/>
China Eastern Airlines Co. is pulling its twice-weekly flight from Wenzhou to Madrid at the end of this month as the country’s aviation officials crack down on subsidies underpinning international flights from smaller cities. The carrier has stopped accepting bookings for the route, which started in November last year, its website shows. While Wenzhou, about 460 kilometers (285 miles) south of Shanghai has a population of 9.8 million — larger than New York City — its airport doesn’t offer a vast range of international flights, with only services to Rome, Milan, Tokyo, Seoul and Bangkok left. China Eastern Airlines didn’t respond to a request for comment. International flights from mid-tier Chinese cities are coming under scrutiny as the Civil Aviation Administration of China seeks to reign in services that may only exist because they’re heavily subsidized. Such flights have long been possible because local governments, in an effort to shore up regional tourism, have offered Chinese carriers financial incentives to serve their cities.<br/>