Scandinavian Airlines System’s (SAS) brand-new Airbus A321 Long Range (LR) aircraft will soon complete its first long-haul flight to the United States.
Scandinavian Airlines’ Airbus A321LR aircraft, registered as SE-DMR, took off from Copenhagen Airport (CPH), Denmark at 13:20 local time and is scheduled to touch down at Dulles International Airport (IAD), Washington DC at about 16:00 EST.
This is a test flight before the aircraft enters commercial service on March 27, 2022.
Welcome Åsa Viking – our new Airbus A321 Long Range!
— SAS – Scandinavian Airlines (@SAS) December 21, 2021
Yesterday, our first @Airbus A321 LR, a narrow-bodied aircraft suited for longer distances, performed its first flight, and tomorrow, it will fly its first long haul flight between Copenhagen and Washington!#flysas pic.twitter.com/nhoaUQ2YnX
“This is an entirely new aircraft type for SAS, which is incredibly well suited to the Scandinavian market and emerging travel patterns to and from the region,” Karl Sandlund, SAS EVP & Chief Commercial Officer said. “It gives SAS an opportunity to offer travelers more intercontinental routes, fewer stopovers, and shorter travel times to and from Scandinavia.”
SAS’ new A321LR is a narrow-body single-aisle aircraft capable of carrying 157 passengers and flying long range distances of 7,408 kilometers.
The A321 LR aircraft is part of SAS ongoing fleet renewal.
Currently, the airline operates 126 aircraft, according to Planespotters.net. The airline’s fleet comprises 56 Airbus A320s, 19 Boeing 737s, 17 Bombardier CRJ-900s, 10 Airbus A321s, eight Airbus A330s, six ATR 72s, and four Airbus A319 aircraft.