AIRWAYS TRAVELER
2 Atlanta gives SAS Airbus A330-300 LN-RKS a water canon salute as it arrives at ATL following the airline ’ s first nonstop flight from Copenhagen ( CPH ).
3 From left : Danish Ambassador to the United States Jesper Møller Sørensen , City of Atlanta
4 The flight crew poses with Mr . Van der Werff and Ambassador Sørensen .
WHEN TWO INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES , a major city , and the world ’ s busiest airport work together , big things can happen .
That was the message on June 17 at Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport as the City of Atlanta , an airline , and high-level dignitaries gathered to celebrate the inaugural nonstop flight operated by SAS ( SK )— in a codeshare with Delta Air Lines ( DL )— from Copenhagen ( CPH ) to Atlanta ( ATL ), and the return one that immediately followed .
I had been invited to fly the return transatlantic long-haul trip to Copenhagen on behalf of Airways , and I jumped at the chance .
The bird I was flying was LN-RKS , an Airbus A330- 300 delivered to SAS in September 2015 and named the Frithiof Viking . Departure time was 19:40 . Due to predicted favorable tailwinds , our flight would last eight hours 40 minutes , and we would be in Copenhagen around 10:00 , local time .
THE CEREMONY
Such an occasion does not come without ceremony , and the airline was going all out . Attending the pre-flight gate event were SAS President and CEO Anko van der Werff , Danish Ambassador to the United States Jesper Møller Sørensen , ATL General Manager Balram Bheodari , and City of Atlanta Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Burks . The outgoing flight crew and other local and airport personnel were also present .
Guests , dignitaries , and passengers mingled as they waited for the aircraft to arrive from Copenhagen . And , when the Airbus approached the gate , it received a full water canon salute .
“ On behalf of the 63,000 men and women who work here at the airport , we welcome the entire SAS team to Atlanta ,” said Bheodari . “ This is a great accomplishment for us . Our mission is to connect our communities to the world , and a flight like this is opening economic opportunities for the two countries .”
Burks added , “ Denmark ’ s high technology manufacturing and biotech industries will benefit from additional connectivity to the United States . Connecting the knowledge and skills of Atlanta and Denmark increases the economic opportunities for all .”
Atlanta is home to more than 70 consulates and trade offices , over 30 bi-national chambers , and more than 2,600 international companies . The city has the second-fastest growing foreign-born population in the US .
Taking the podium , Van der Werff said , “ We are very proud , happy , and excited to be in Atlanta . We
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36 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2024 www . airwaysmag . com