SAS pulls plug on "oil route" between Stavanger and Houston

15. Sep 2015

by Jacob

The oil industry is going through a tough time right now and the so-called "oil route” between Stavanger and Houston, dedicated to the oil and energy sector in the two regions, has struggled with profitability. In an interview with BusinessClass in mid-August, SAS CEO Rickard Gustafsson announced that the "oil route” was under discussion, and today the news came - the route is closed. The aircraft used on the route will instead be deployed between Copenhagen and New York to reinforce existing services.

The final departures from both Stavanger and Houston will be on October 23, with the last arrival in Stavanger on October 24. Passengers who have reservations after that date will be provided with assistance rebooking their flights. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-400, will instead be deployed between Copenhagen and New York to supplement existing New York services. Flights will depart every day except Tuesdays with a departure time of 18.25 from Copenhagen and 22.55 from New York.

Eivind Roald

, Commercial Director for SAS and the

initiator of the “oil route”

, said: “The oil route was the result of a creative and constructive product development between SAS and our key customers in the oil industry and we have given the route a proper chance to develop in the past year. Unfortunately, we must note that the decline in the industry also affects us and therefore we are moving the flight to Copenhagen - New York where the market potential is much better right now.” Tickets for the new flight between Copenhagen and New York are on sale from September 16.

Seat on SAS Boeing 737-700 New routes from Scandinavia to Los Angeles and Miami were also recently announced by SAS,

read here.