SAS Cancels Flights Amid Middle East Tensions and Rising Fuel Costs

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has canceled 26 flights from Bergen Airport, Flesland, this week, impacting routes to Oslo, Trondheim, and Stavanger. The cancellations are attributed to the ongoing situation in the Middle East and the resulting surge in global fuel prices, according to a statement from SAS communications manager Øystein Schmidt.

Affected Flights

Here’s a breakdown of the canceled flights, as reported by Avinor:

Tuesday:

• 0655 to Stavanger (SK4133)
• 0710 to Oslo (SK2380)
• 0805 to Stavanger (SK4135)
• 0835 to Trondheim (SK4154)
• 0940 to Stavanger (SK4139)
• 1305 to Stavanger (SK4159)
• 1425 to Stavanger (SK4167)
• 1535 to Stavanger (SK4163)
• 2010 to Trondheim (SK4196)

Wednesday:

• 0805 to Stavanger (SK4135)
• 0835 to Trondheim (SK4154)
• 1425 to Stavanger (SK4167)
• 1645 to Stavanger (SK4173)

Thursday:

• 0655 to Stavanger (SK4133)
• 0805 to Stavanger (SK4135)
• 0835 to Trondheim (SK4154)
• 0940 to Stavanger (SK4139)
• 1300 to Oslo (SK2621)
• 1425 to Stavanger (SK4167)
• 2105 to Oslo (SK290)

Friday:

• 0930 to Oslo (SK2521)
• 1305 to Stavanger (SK4159)
• 1425 to Stavanger (SK4167)
• 1535 to Stavanger (SK4163)

Saturday:

• 1515 to Oslo (SK2721)
• 1825 to Oslo (SK284)

Fuel Prices and SAS Response

The price of oil has risen to over $100 a barrel following recent events involving the US, Israel, and Iran, increasing from $73 a barrel prior to the attacks. Schmidt stated that the cancellations are a measure to strengthen the airline’s resilience. Affected customers are being rebooked on alternative flights where available. SAS apologized for the inconvenience caused by these changes.

Wider Impact and Other Airlines

According to TV 2, a total of 110 SAS departures from Bergen, Oslo, Trondheim, and Stavanger are affected. Norwegian Air Shuttle has canceled all flights to Dubai up to and including April 8th due to the situation in the Middle East but has no plans to cancel domestic flights, continuing with its usual schedule. Widerøe, owned by Norwegian, is also operating normally.

Avinor has indicated that airlines are responsible for their own route planning and commercial assessments and will comment on any further potential cancellations directly.