SAS to Offer All-Business Stavanger-Houston Service, with a BBJ

SAS is launching six-times-weekly, all-business class service between Stavanger in Norway and Houston on August 20.

This new service fulfills the wishes of leading players in the oil industry for better connections linking Norway and the rest of Scandinavia with Houston, according to SAS.

Swiss charter carrier PrivatAir operates a Boeing BBJ1 ‒ the executive-jet version of the Boeing 737-700ER ‒ in all-business class configuration on behalf of various airlines. It also operates a BBJ2, an executive-jet version of the 737-800, on similar services

“The route we have established is a tailored product for a defined market with particular travel needs,” says Rickard Gustafson, president and CEO of SAS.

SAS will operate the route using a Boeing BBJ, an executive-jet version of the Boeing 737-700ER.

The Scandinavian carrier has entered into a wet-lease agreement with PrivatAir, a Swiss executive charter and sub-service operator which owns the Boeing BBJ and will operate it on SAS’ behalf.

The aircraft will be painted in SAS’ distinctive colors and logo. It will have an SAS long-haul Business Class concept cabin fitted with 44 business-class seats and offering a modern in-flight entertainment system.

Flight attendants will serve full-service meals and offer full SAS Business Class service on board.

“The favorable timetable provides excellent connections throughout Scandinavia in both directions, while Houston is a hub for places to the south and west such as Mexico, Los Angeles, Dallas and Phoenix with the Star Alliance,” says Gustafson.

SAS will launch the service on August 20, just ahead of the major oil-industry exhibition in Stavanger, Offshore Northern Seas. Situated on the southwestern tip of Norway, Stavanger is Norway’s major operations port for supporting the North Sea oil industry.

Tickets for the route, which will operate daily in each direction except on Saturdays, go on sale on April 29.

PrivatAir has also operated its Boeing BBJ and its Boeing BBJ2 (the executive-jet version of the Boeing 737-800) on all-business class services on behalf of other carriers, including Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines.