This Airline Route to Europe Was Just Revived After a 16-year Pause—and I Snagged a Seat On the First Flight

On May 21, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) relaunched a long-haul flight connecting Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) with Copenhagen Airport (CPH) after a 16-year-long pause. The flight will operate five days per week during the SAS summer schedule—but I was lucky enough to snag a business-class seat on the first flight.

“The Seattle-Copenhagen route has been a highly requested destination,” Paul Verhagen, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Scandinavian Airlines, tells Travel + Leisure. “Washington State has deep Scandinavian roots, with many residents tracing their heritage to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. This creates natural demand for both leisure and family travel.”

As any business class journey should, my excursion began with a visit to the lounge. While there isn’t an SAS lounge in Seattle, the airline is a part of the SkyTeam airline alliance, so I got access to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport’s Delta Sky Club. The lounge has views of Mount Rainier and the runway, and you can plane spot while enjoying small bites like clam chowder, chicken sliders, and caprese salad from the buffet or a drink from the bar.

Although the Delta Sky Club was located in Concourse A and the flight was scheduled to depart from Concourse S, it was easy to move between terminals, thanks to the SEA Underground—trains leave every three minutes and there was no need to go through security again.

The inaugural festivities kicked off with a celebration near the gate, featuring historic pictures of the original inaugural SAS flight from Seattle to Copenhagen.

Boarding was quick and easy (admittedly, being in zone one didn’t hurt), and we soon found ourselves on an Airbus 350-900, considered one of the best modern wide-body planes. It’s much quieter than most other planes in its peer group, and the air pressure is lower. It only ever feels like you’re, at most, an altitude of around 5,500 feet. That all means a more comfortable experience with less jet lag. 

After a send-off from the local fire department and the airport staff, our flight was soon in the air, making its way across the Rocky Mountains, through Canada, and finally across the Atlantic.

I’ve always flown economy so let’s just say that in SAS business class, some socks were knocked off. 

The business class section was in a 1-2-1 formation, and I found myself in the middle aisle. The units were generously sized, and the seat was large and cushy, with buttons that could adjust the height, angle, and level of cushion in the chair. There was plenty of overhead storage, as well as a nifty area to store other items near my feet. I also appreciated having a shelf (with a drink holder, no less) to store odds and ends that I had with me during my flight. 

There were over-the-ear headphones for watching movies on the very deluxe, oversized entertainment console. Entertainment selection was broad, with new movies like “Nosferatu,” “A Complete Unknown,” and “The Brutalist” available to watch as well as classic flicks like “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” “Cool Hand Luke,” and “Dumb and Dumber.”

But perhaps one of the coolest perks of flying in an A350-900 is the tail-view camera, where you can watch mountains, rivers, and oceans pass you by during your flight from the comfort of your seat. The internet service, however, was pretty spotty during this particular flight, and it was hard to load a browser page, much less get work done.

In addition to the usual business class swag bag—packed with an eye mask, face cream, a toothbrush, and socks—passengers on this inaugural flight also received a small bag filled with things like Scandinavisk-branded hand cream, white chocolate truffles, and a commemorative luggage tag. Passengers also got a “boreal forest” soy wax candle by Skog, which did indeed smell like a brisk walk through the pines.

As far as airplane food goes, it would be hard to find fault in Scandinavian Airlines’ business class fare, which truly goes all out with fresh, Scandi-inspired fare. For each meal, flight attendants began service by “setting” the table by laying down a napkin on the tray table.

Dinner was a four-course event consisting of a starter, a main, a cheese plate, and a dessert. I opted for the burrata salad for a starter, a spring-y arrangement of tomatoes, basil, and burrata with a sweet balsamic reduction on the side. I then had the grilled miso chicken, which was served with piping hot jasmine rice and perfectly cooked radishes and bok choy. There was fresh fruit and a cheese plate for dessert, featuring a generous slice of very nice blue cheese.

Breakfast was a simple affair with overnight oats, a smoothie, and a poached egg with shashuka. Bedding down in a comforter from the luxe Swedish linen brand Dux made it easy to catch some shut-eye, too.

With the multiple feasts and plenty of movies to watch, I soon found myself in Copenhagen. Since I felt so well-rested from my flight, it was easy to hit the ground running—and that’s exactly what SAS intends.

Copenhagen Airport is a major hub to other Scandinavian destinations and a gateway to all that northern Europe has to offer. After this flight, I hopped on a couple of short plane rides to Bergen, Norway (a direct route from Copenhagen to Bergen is available), and spent a few days exploring the country’s breathtaking fjords by car—the transition from one of the region’s most bustling cities to one of the most remote and idyllic areas was smooth and easy.

“The route is among the fastest and most seamless transatlantic connections, offering travelers an efficient and smooth journey between North America and Europe,” Verhagen says. “Schedules have been designed to maximize connectivity with the rest of the SAS network, offering one-stop access to and from 39 European cities via Copenhagen.”

For West Coast and Pacific Northwest residents, that means Northern Europe is once again, just one short (and very luxurious) flight away.