SAS on Monday (29 April) confirmed it had signed an alliance adherence agreement with SkyTeam, promising a "seamless transition" for its customers and access to new benefits.

SkyTeam said SAS customers would also benefit from more travel options to "several previously unserved destinations", such as in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, with the SkyTeam network extending to more than 1,000 destinations.

Members serving SAS hubs include Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines and Middle East Airlines. SAS has hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm.

"This collaboration will bolster SkyTeam’s global network, offering new destinations, enhanced connectivity and a more seamless, elevated customer journey for all travellers," the alliance added.

Anko van der Werff, SAS president and chief executive, hailed the announcement "a pivotal milestone" in SAS’s alliance transition, one marking "the start of an exciting future for customers, partners and employees alike".

"SAS customers will benefit from SkyTeam’s strong global presence in many of the world’s major aviation hubs and from its focus on strategic partnerships and innovative sustainability initiatives," added van der Werff.

SkyTeam chief executive Patrick Roux added: “With its global reputation for reliability, quality and service, SAS is a great fit for SkyTeam and, as we continue to strengthen our customer proposition, we look forward to being part of their future journey."