SAS Link has completed deployment of its planned fleet of 10 Embraer E195 E1s, with the arrival of the last (of four) aircraft from lessor Azorra. The remaining six are leased from Falko.
Scandinavian Airlines’ regional subsidiary operates the aircraft on thinner routes that do not require an Airbus A320 from the Group’s mainline airline, from its main bases at Copenhagen and Bergen.
The Scandinavian carrier operates the E195s primarily on Nordic routes, but also as far afield as Milan, Venice and Dublin.
Many airlines use the crossover jet as a method of opening new routes at minimum cost, but SAS Link mainly uses the Brazilian aircraft to maintain frequencies on sectors, said an airline spokesman.
The aircraft, which are between 12 and 16 years old, are operated in a single-class layout, initially in a 114-seat configuration. However, the installation of new-generation, thinner seats has enabled the fitting of two additional rows and all ten aircraft will eventually have a 122-seat layout.
“Azorra is thrilled to become a partner with SAS in the buildout of the Link business unit as the airline continues to successfully execute its restructuring plan,” the lessor’s chief marketing officer, Michael Davis said on the handover of the final aircraft. “These aircraft will enable SAS Link to serve its customers across Europe with a crossover jet platform that is efficient and flexible.”
