Travel Flash Report

TRAVEL FLASH - September 09, 2025

Breaking: SAS and Alaska Launch First-Ever Nonstop Scandinavia–Seoul and Seattle–Seoul Routes, Expanding Transpacific Access

TOP 3 STORIES:
1. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) inaugurates its first nonstop service from Copenhagen to Seoul on September 12, marking the only direct link between Denmark and South Korea and leveraging its new SkyTeam partnership. This move opens new one-stop connections across Europe for Asian travelers and intensifies competition in the Nordic–Asia market[1].

2. Delta Air Lines delivers the first commercial-scale batch of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Portland International Airport, supplied by Shell and blended from waste-derived feedstock. While this milestone supports local air quality and emissions goals, Delta cautions that global SAF supply remains limited, signaling ongoing challenges for airlines seeking to scale sustainability efforts[5].

3. The private jet sector sees a surge in demand for ultra-long-range aircraft and a global increase in fixed-base operators (FBOs) to support expanding operations. This trend reflects the growing preference among high-net-worth travelers for direct, long-haul connectivity and signals new opportunities for airport infrastructure investment[3].

Flash Insight:
Transpacific route expansion by SAS and Alaska Airlines underscores a renewed focus on Asia–Europe and Asia–US connectivity, with alliance shifts and new partnerships reshaping competitive dynamics. Sustainability remains a top priority, but the limited availability of SAF highlights the gap between ambition and operational reality for commercial carriers. Meanwhile, the private aviation sector’s growth in long-range capability and supporting infrastructure points to a bifurcated recovery, with premium and business travel leading innovation and investment.

[1] https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/50-new-routes-launching-september-2025
[3] https://www.paramountbusinessjets.com/blog/7-private-aviation-trends-statistics-starting-2025
[5] https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/airport-updates-latest-news-global-market-wc-sept-8-2025