SAS is launching a direct route between Copenhagen and Mumbai, flying five times a week from October 1. The service marks the airline’s return to India after 17 years.
SAS announced the new nonstop link in a press release on Monday, Avisen Danmark reports. The flights will be operated with an Airbus A330 carrying 266 seats, between the Danish capital and the Indian west coast city.
According to SAS, the route will run year-round rather than seasonally. The airline says the connection will strengthen Copenhagen Airport’s role as a gateway, offering onward links to European destinations and long-haul routes to New York, Boston and Toronto.
Paul Verhagen, chief commercial officer at SAS, describes the route in the press release as a strategic milestone that opens doors between Scandinavia and one of the world’s most dynamic economic centers.
Industry outlet Check-in.dk has previously reported that SAS operated a Copenhagen to New Delhi route until March 2009, when it was closed as part of a cost-cutting plan. Indian carrier Air India currently flies directly between Copenhagen and New Delhi.
A launch date that moved several times
The route was first presented in an SAS press release in June 2025, which set the first flight for June 2, 2026, subject to final government approval. As reported by InsideFlyer Denmark on August 13, 2026, the start was pushed back repeatedly, with October 1 named as the earliest date.
Schedule tracker AeroRoutes reported in July 2026 that SAS had tentatively moved the launch to August 1, 2026, still five weekly flights with an Airbus A330-300. That date was later removed from reservation systems, according to the same outlet.
Indian aviation site Live From A Lounge reported on August 15, 2026 that the inaugural flight had to turn back mid-air in June. The reason given was missing Indian regulatory approval for the service.
The same outlet reports that SAS now says it has secured all required clearances. The first Copenhagen to Mumbai departure is listed for October 2, with the first Mumbai to Copenhagen flight on October 3.
All sources, including SAS, AeroRoutes, InsideFlyer Denmark and Norwegian outlet FrequentFlyer, state the same frequency and aircraft. The route is to be flown five times weekly with the Airbus A330-300 once operations begin.
Mumbai lies on India’s west coast facing the Arabian Sea and has more than 20 million inhabitants. New Delhi, the capital and the country’s largest city, has more than 30 million residents and lies in the northern part of India.
