here are the answers to your questions based on the provided text:
1. What is the main topic of the article?
The main topic of the article is the impact of airspace closures (especially Russian airspace) and geopolitical tensions on Scandinavian aviation, specifically SAS. It discusses the loss of seats,increased flight times,and the resulting challenges for airlines like SAS in competing with airlines that can still overfly Russia.
2. What are the main points of the article?
Airspace Closures Impact: The closure of Russian airspace has substantially impacted European airlines, especially Scandinavian ones, creating an imbalance with Chinese airlines.
Seat Losses: Scandinavia has lost a substantial number of departing seats to affected areas due to airspace closures and geopolitical tensions.
Increased Flight Times: Routes to the East have become longer, reducing service quality and increasing costs for airlines that cannot use Russian airspace.
No-Fly Zones: Besides Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, other no-fly zones in the Middle East and Asia further restrict scandinavian carriers.
SAS’s Situation: SAS has been particularly affected, with increased flight times and the suspension of direct flights to China in 2025.
3. What is the source of the facts?
The source of the information is a “SAS report on the impact of Russian airspace closures on Scandinavian aviation.”
4. What specific areas are mentioned as no-fly zones?
Russian airspace
Belarusian airspace
Ukrainian airspace
Iran
The area from lebanon in the north to the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula
5.what is the impact on the Copenhagen to Shanghai route?
The average airborne time for SAS’s Copenhagen to Shanghai route increased by nearly two hours (19%) after the closure of Russian airspace. This has resulted in SAS not operating direct flights to China in 2025.
6.How many seats have been lost on departures to geopolitically affected areas from 2019 to 2024?
Scandinavia has lost 1.1 million seats on departures to the geopolitically affected areas from 2019 to 2024.7. What is the change in departing seats to Japan, Jordan, and China/hong Kong from 2019 to 2024?
Japan: 83,995 in 2019 to 54,900 in 2024 (-35% change)
Jordan: 33,121 in 2019 to 14,724 in 2024 (-56% change)
* China/Hong Kong: 673,266 in 2019 to 286,176 in 2024 (-57% change)
Scandinavian Aviation Grounded? Expert Analysis on Airspace Closures and SAS’s Future
time.news: The airspace over Eastern Europe and asia has become increasingly restricted in recent years. Today, we speak with aviation expert Amelia Stone to unpack a new report by SAS detailing the impact on Scandinavian airlines. Amelia, thanks for joining us.
Amelia Stone: Glad to be here. It’s a complex situation, and clarity is crucial.
Time.news: The report highlights a meaningful impact on Scandinavian aviation due to airspace closures,particularly over Russia. Can you elaborate on the main challenges?
Amelia Stone: Absolutely. The closure of Russian airspace has created a real disadvantage for airlines like SAS. think of it like this: airlines that can overfly Russia have a much shorter, cheaper, and faster route to many Asian destinations. This gives them a competitive edge, considerably impacting Scandinavian airlines’ ability to compete on price and service offerings. The SAS report clearly shows this is affecting their bottom line and strategic decisions.
Time.news: The report mentions a loss of 1.1 million seats on departures from Scandinavia to “geopolitically affected areas” between 2019 and 2024. That’s a huge number. What’s driving this decline?
Amelia Stone: It’s multifactorial, but the airspace closures are a primary driver. Geopolitical instability creates uncertainty. Fewer routes mean fewer seats offered. Plus, the increased flight times make some routes less attractive to travelers. Consider the Copenhagen to Shanghai route mentioned in the report. A near two-hour increase in flight time, a 19% jump, is not insignificant. This likely contributed heavily to the decision for SAS not to operate direct flights to China in 2025.
Time.news: So, it’s not just about lost time, but strategic route changes?
Amelia Stone: Precisely. Airlines constantly evaluate route profitability.Longer routes mean increased fuel consumption, higher crew costs, and potential passenger dissatisfaction. When the margins are already tight, as they often are in the airline industry, these factors can make a route unsustainable. Airlines must adapt, which often means reducing frequency, using smaller aircraft, or, as in SAS’s case with shanghai, suspending the route altogether, at least temporarily. This impacts the overall connectivity of Scandinavia. And this impacts not only the airline business, but tourism and general business.
Time.news: Beyond Russia, the report also mentions no-fly zones over Belarus, Ukraine, Iran, and parts of the Middle East. How do these restrictions collectively impact scandinavian airlines?
Amelia Stone: these restrictions compound the challenges. Each no-fly zone forces airlines to reroute, adding to flight times and fuel costs.The area from Lebanon to the northern Sinai Peninsula presents particular issues for routes connecting scandinavia to destinations in the Middle East and beyond. Each of these individual closures may not have the same effect as Russian Airspace, but collectively, they require very arduous choices on routes, service quality, and even ticket pricing for customers. This has the effect of making Scandinavian countries, and passengers, less attractive in many ways that are difficult to quantify.
Time.news: The report specifically highlights the impact on seat capacity to destinations like Japan, Jordan, and China/Hong Kong.The figures are quite stark.
Amelia Stone: Yes, the declines are significant. Taking China/Hong Kong such as, there’s a 57% drop in departing seats from Scandinavia between 2019 and 2024. That’s a clear indication of the impact of airspace closures and broader geopolitical tensions. The Japanese and Jordanian routes see similar,tho less dramatic,percentage drops. This means fewer options for travelers, perhaps higher fares, and a reduced ability for Scandinavian businesses to connect with these crucial markets.
Time.news: For our readers who might be planning travel to these regions,what advice would you offer in light of these challenges for Scandinavian airlines?
Amelia Stone: Planning is key. Book flights well in advance to secure the best fares because prices may fluctuate more than before as airlines adjust to the changing conditions. Be prepared for longer travel times,possibly with layovers where direct flights were previously available.consider flying with airlines that can overfly Russia if shorter travel times are a priority but also be prepared that these flights may sometimes be canceled. Look at travel insurance policies that cover potential disruptions due to geopolitical events and airspace closures. check for government travel advisories and stay informed about the current situation leading up to your trip, so if things change you’re prepared to do so as well.
Time.news: So, the future looks increasingly turbulent for the aviation sector. What do you think the industry could do to tackle the challenges?
Amelia Stone: Indeed, the aviation industry is facing very challenging conditions. The long-term impact remains to be seen. We may also see shifts in the airline industry as triumphant airlines that can avoid no-fly zones will be able to expand market share. A push for international collaborations to collectively advocate for open skies and fair competition is crucial, even if it’s a long shot. The industry also needs to look at innovative ways to improve fuel efficiency and reduce costs to mitigate the impact of longer flight times. Diversifying routes and exploring alternative destinations could also help airlines become less reliant on affected regions. Overall the industry may need to re-evaluate some norms for profitability.
Time.news: Amelia, thank you for shedding light on this complex and evolving situation.Your insights are invaluable for our readers. Understanding these impacts is crucial for anyone planning travel to and from Scandinavia.
Amelia Stone: My pleasure. It’s a dynamic situation, and staying informed is essential.
