Travel Flash Report

TRAVEL FLASH - February 18, 2026

Breaking: SAS launches three new long-haul routes from Copenhagen to Dubai, Phuket, and Krabi, boosting Asia-Middle East capacity by over 75% to Thailand[1]

TOP 3 STORIES:
1. SAS expands winter 2026/27 timetable with nonstop Copenhagen-Dubai (first since 2011), Phuket, and Krabi flights using A350s, alongside capacity hikes like 50%+ to Seoul and 40% to Tokyo. Travel professionals should prioritize Copenhagen connections for Scandinavian clients seeking premium leisure/business access to UAE and Thai beaches; frequent travelers gain optimal timings for seamless Europe-Thailand links.[1]
2. Spirit Airlines marks 20 years at Atlanta (ATL) with 20% off base fares (code: 20PCT, book Feb 17-18 for Mar 15-May 20 travel), resuming ATL-CHI/PHL and tripling daily ATL-ORL from Apr 15. Agents can push budget U.S./Caribbean deals to Southeast clients avoiding peak blackouts; flyers save on peak-day's 18 departures but note add-ons and restrictions like no Fri/Sun post-Apr 15.[2]
3. U.S. DOT renews Cape Air's subsidized EAS contract at Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) through 2028 over SkyWest bid, maintaining 14x weekly BOS and 7x JFK flights with ~$4.5M annual funding. Rural tourism operators retain reliable small-plane access to NYC/Boston for Adirondack visitors; travelers avoid switch risks but miss potential larger jets to DTW/DCA.[3]

Flash Insight: SAS's Asia/UAE push signals surging Nordic demand for warm escapes, urging pros to bundle Copenhagen hubs with A350 premium economy. U.S. low-cost promotions like Spirit's underscore value wars at mega-hubs amid disruptions, favoring agile booking tools. Regional stability at SLK highlights EAS priorities for essential access over growth, stabilizing small-market tourism.[1][2][3]

[1] https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2026/02/sas-launches-new-routes-in-asia/
[2] https://ir.spirit.com/news/news-details/2026/Spirit-Airlines-Sweetens-Flight-Deals-for-the-Peach-State-with-20-Off-Base-Fares-from-Atlanta/default.aspx
[3] https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2026/02/keeping-cape-air/