In September 2024, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced that it plans to reintroduce business class on intra-Europe flights, replacing the carrier’s current quirky SAS Plus product. There’s now an update, as we’ve learned when this new product will launch, and what we can expect.
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SAS Business replaces SAS Plus on regional flights
As of October 1, 2025, SAS plans to once again offer business class on intra-Europe flights operated by regional aircraft, with tickets going on sale as of May 6, 2025. SAS highlights how passengers can expect the following from the new short haul business class:
- A new food & beverage concept with a more premium and flexible dining experience, including reusable premium tableware
- A section in the front of the aircraft, separated with a curtain and overhead divider from the rest of the plane
- Blocked middle seats, to ensure more space and privacy
- Priority treatment on the ground, including priority check-in, boarding, and access to more lounges
Here’s how Paul Verhagen, SAS’ Chief Commercial Officer, describes this:
“Many of our comfort- and quality-focused travelers expect a clearly defined European Business Class that aligns with international standards. While SAS Plus has provided an upgraded experience, it has lacked the recognition and clarity that travelers seek. With the reintroduction of European Business Class, we are ensuring that SAS offers the premium experience of a top European airline.”
Now, intra-Europe business class isn’t much to get excited about, but it’s better than what the airline currently offers. For context, currently SAS has what it refers to as SAS Plus on short haul flights. That branding is aligned with the name of the carrier’s long haul premium economy product. SAS Plus consists of seats at the front of the cabin with complimentary drinks and snacks. There are also premium ground services, like fast track security and lounge access.
However, SAS Plus doesn’t have blocked middle seats, there’s no dedicated bathroom, and you’re primarily just getting economy food and drinks for free in business class. So these changes will more closely align SAS with what you find in the rest of the industry.
Why SAS is changing its premium short haul product
The timing of this development is no coincidence. Within the past year, SAS has received an investment from Air France-KLM, and the airline has also joined the SkyTeam alliance. The goal is even to get SAS into the SkyTeam transatlantic joint venture, which consists of Air France-KLM, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic.
It makes perfect sense for SAS to also more closely align its short haul product with that of partner airlines, so that there’s more consistency between airlines. For example, if someone is on a transatlantic business class ticket, they at least want a blocked middle seat on their connection, and SAS doesn’t want people booking away from the airline because of this.
Beyond that, we know SAS is embracing a new strategy, whereby it’s trying to turn Copenhagen (CPH) into a global hub, and become more of a hub-and-spoke carrier. For so long, SAS split its efforts, also offering long haul flights from Oslo (OSL) and Stockholm (ARN), and that made it tough to actually build a cohesive strategy. 
Bottom line
SAS is making updates to its short haul premium product. As of October 2025, the airline will introduce business class on flights within Europe, replacing the current SAS Plus product. This will mean a dedicated cabin with blocked middle seats, a more substantial food and drink selection, more personalized service, and more. This seems like a sensible move, given that SAS is trying to align more closely with its SkyTeam partners.
What do you make of SAS introducing business class on short haul flights?
I think it is a pity as I quite appreciated the SAS Plus concept. Basically business class, but if the flight was full, you might have someone sit next to you.
It was not super expensive and far more likely to be accepted by corporate travel policies than business class.
What’s going to happen to those who booked long haul premium economy and were booked into SAS plus for the short haul? Will they be “upgraded” or downgraded to economy?
Always thought was a nice perk of flying SAS premium economy long haul over other carriers to get your short haul connecting flight not in normal economy.
It was indeed a nice perk of the feeder flight in premium economy and gets access to the SAS lounges too. I expect the feeder flights for international premium economy will be in economy going forward.
SK needed to do this as they're turning CPH into a transit hub.
Also partly why many other European airlines still have business class. Good luck trying to sell mixed cabin itineraries.
CPH has been a transit hub — the main international and intercontinental transit hub — for SAS and Scandinavia for at least the last 25 years. It’s more of a hub now than it was when SAS last had short/mid-haul business class.
Personally, I like the "SAS Plus" concept, and wish US carriers would adopt that for their supposedly "premium economy" domestic offerings. Doesn't cost that much extra, but you feel like you're being treated like a person instead of cattle.
I cannot tell the amount of american travellers who complained about not having the blocked middle seats while traveling SAS Plus.
Oh so many Karens.
But I always thought as the Jantelagen applied in nordic aviation lol
EuroBusiness class is a joke. Same economy seats and pitch as you get in cattle class, only for a much higher price. Oh yeah, you get a mediocre meal and maybe you still get a newspaper. You're better off in the economy plus sections of US airlines, who actually do have business class and who are hardly world class, yet they look it when compared with what passes for service in intra-European flights.
Cramming...
EuroBusiness class is a joke. Same economy seats and pitch as you get in cattle class, only for a much higher price. Oh yeah, you get a mediocre meal and maybe you still get a newspaper. You're better off in the economy plus sections of US airlines, who actually do have business class and who are hardly world class, yet they look it when compared with what passes for service in intra-European flights.
Cramming into a Ryanair, easyJet or Vueling seat is, frankly, a lot smarter use of your money.
Yes, I'm sure people have fun queuing and tipping for those $7 airport coffees even when they're a top-tier elite flying in 'first' class.
I get the criticism of European business class compared to Asian carriers but claiming that the US first is better is... wild. No lounge access, no food on most flights (peanuts don't count as food), no space between you and the neighbour.. yes, you get a larger chair but why would I need that?
Oh and it's pretty much always full because they hand out free upgrades so you are guaranteed to be right next to another person with no separation.
I have had a grand total of 1 free complimentary domestic/regional upgrades on US airlines in the last 3 years. And I’ve had mid to top tier elite status on no less than 2 of the 3 big US airlines for at least the last 24 years.
I'm with @Samo on this one. The comparison between European first and US domestic first class is highly misleading and frankly stupid. Keep in mind that the vast majority of intra-Europe travel is less than two hours in duration... so the best comparison is to regional service on E175, and the occasional A220.
Don't get me wrong, I love the E175, but I would take lounge access and decent food and good service with a...
I'm with @Samo on this one. The comparison between European first and US domestic first class is highly misleading and frankly stupid. Keep in mind that the vast majority of intra-Europe travel is less than two hours in duration... so the best comparison is to regional service on E175, and the occasional A220.
Don't get me wrong, I love the E175, but I would take lounge access and decent food and good service with a blocked seat over SkyWest service with a pretty nice chair.
Although I do want to correct @Samo on the neighbor thing. If you're flying solo, left aisle on E175 is pretty awesome. But for couples, yeah Europe wins hands down.
Cool. Finally.
Just a little correction: SAS Plus allows you to get economy food for free if you don't like the SAS Plus dish, but normally you'd get a different food than Y BOB (not very good though, so many of us end up indeed ordering that instead).
Overall the product looks nice. Not as good as IAG, A3, LO etc, but way better than AFKL.
I don't understand why it has taken SAS over a year since joining Sky Team to do this. Why couldn't they in the interim start blocking middle seats in its current "plus" premium-economy product? The worse thing is SAS sells its current product as business-class on connecting flights. So someone comes off long-haul business-class and boards SAS for a connection in Europe only to discover they're not in an actual business-class.
Because SAS is the worst
SAS has only been in SkyTeam for - little more than 7 months but there are probably a multitude of reasons that they can’t just eliminate Plus on short-haul and turn on Business on short-haul.
As someone who flies SAS a lot — it’s easily over a hundred SAS flights per year for me across a mix of distances and cabins — I don’t see this change back to business class on SAS short-haul flights...
SAS has only been in SkyTeam for - little more than 7 months but there are probably a multitude of reasons that they can’t just eliminate Plus on short-haul and turn on Business on short-haul.
As someone who flies SAS a lot — it’s easily over a hundred SAS flights per year for me across a mix of distances and cabins — I don’t see this change back to business class on SAS short-haul flights being all great for me. Is it going to be great for SAS? I have my doubts as intra-European business class has often turned out to be a sub-performing but a sort of “necessary evil” for the airlines that have it.
The real question for me is whether they'll finally sign contracts with outstation lounges. I hope that they do, and it might incentivise me to buy the odd European business class ticket on them if they price them in line with Lufthansa P fares, particularly since I'm only ST Elite so I don't get lounge access with my status.
They will be doing so, at least on non Nordic routes with AF/KL/DL/VS codeshares.
Yes, SAS should have done this on day 1. Think of all the Americans who were upset about this.
That should be ANY European's first thought: someone in America has gotten some points from buying toilet paper at their local Costco, how can we possible accommodate them and their plus-sized wishes?
Honey, be glad we allow you in still. It may not last.