SAS Scandinavian Airlines will reduce its destinations in Asia from three to two. The SkyTeam member announced yesterday that it will discontinue the Copenhagen–Shanghai route from November 2024. The last flight from Copenhagen is expected to depart on November 7, with the return flight from China scheduled for the following day.
After several recent good deals for the route, some Travel-Dealz readers may be affected by the cancellation. Affected passengers are entitled to a free rebooking on another airline.
This is also bad news for SAS EuroBonus members. Shanghai was the only destination in Asia where business-class award tickets were regularly available. However, this was also a sign of the route’s apparently poor load factor.
Other Airlines Are Also Withdrawing from China
In addition to SAS, other airlines have recently reduced their routes to China. The following routes will also end with the winter flight schedule:
- British Airways will discontinue the London–Beijing route at the end of October.
- Lufthansa has cancelled all flights between Frankfurt and Beijing after October 25. However, joint venture partner Air China will continue to operate the route.
- LOT will no longer fly from Warsaw to Beijing during the winter.
- Virgin Atlantic will discontinue the London–Shanghai route at the end of October, its last remaining destination in the Far East.
One significant factor in the lack of success for these routes is the continued closure of Russian airspace to European airlines. This adds up to three hours of flight time compared to competitors and partners from China.
Passenger Rights in the Event of Flight Cancellation
Since SAS is an EU airline, European passenger rights apply even for flights departing from China. Travellers are entitled to the following, regardless of departure or destination:
- Cancellation and refund within 7 days
- Alternative transportation (under comparable travel conditions) at the earliest possible time
- Alternative transportation (under comparable travel conditions) at a later time
SAS is reportedly offering rebooking options, primarily on KLM or Air France. Passengers are not required to accept a downgrade and are entitled to transportation in the originally booked class.
Conclusion
With other airlines also announcing the cancellation of various China destinations, the end of the Copenhagen–Shanghai route by SAS is not entirely surprising.
However, it is still unfortunate, especially as the route was one of the best sweet spots for miles collectors. Those aiming for a million EuroBonus points will now have to find other options to redeem them.
Sources: AeroRoutes and Flyertalk
Cover Picture: Photo by Rafael Banha on Unsplash
Comments (7)
Stefan with comments like that you should stay quiet about idiots. Since you look like one.
Write the idiots at the EU like vanderLeyen, who started all this by closing European airspace to Russian airlines.
So you love financing a criminal dictator? The same dictator by the way who forced an EU aircraft to land in order arrest a person of political interest?
Nice to know that Air Serbia will operate to Shanghai from january onwards , besides the just opened flights to CAN/Guagzhou and its flights to Tanjin/Peking area
LOL your documentation is not correct. Most passengers got downgrades or have been pushed towards accepting refunds. Also you should not that the flight loads have been very low lately with only a handful in C and PE, while mostly Chinese Tour groups in Y.
Well, these are your official rights when you fly with an EU airline. And I can tell you that I was personally affected (by the Beijing-Frankfurt discontinuation) and I was able to freely rebook my flight to the routing of my choice (within the same Joint Venture) without any problems.
VS did not offer rebookings – and I suggest taking a look at Flyertalk, where you see that SK is trying to force people into taking the refund.
I am aware of the rights, but in many cases you will have to book yourself and then sue the airline for reimbursement. Thats just super normal today.
It just takes 6-9 months in Germany until you get your refund – of course with interest paid by the Airline