Scandinavian Airlines

Scandinavian Airlines
Founded	1946
Hubs	Copenhagen Airport; Oslo Gardermoen Airport; Stockholm Arlanda Airport;
Frequent-flyer program	EuroBonus
Alliance	Star Alliance
Fleet size	135
Destinations	168
Parent company	SAS Group
Headquarters	Stockholm
Website	[1]

Scandinavian Airlines (fd. Scandinavian Airlines System) (SAS) is the flag carrier of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. On August 1, 1946, the airline was founded.^[1]

As of 2023's fourth quarter, the airline has accepted an offer from a group of investors who want to take over the company; However, the deal needs approval from authorities; The decision from authorities, is not ready as of October 2023.^[2]

The airline is founding member of Star Alliance alongside Air Canada, Lufthansa, Thai Airways International and United Airlines, and will stay with that group until September 2024;^[3] Earlier (2023) media said that the airline will in the future become part of "Air France-KLM" [if the deal gets approval from authorities].^[4]

History

The first flight was held on September 17, 1946.^[5] In 1959, it bought its first jet aircraft.^[6] The Boeing 747 and DC-10 wide-body airplanes were bought the early 70s^[7] In 1976, SAS started a partnership with Thai Airways and in 1989, SAS started another partnership with Continental Airlines.^[8] SAS launched its frequent-flyer program in 1992.^[9] SAS helped start the Star Alliance in 1997.^[10] Starting in 2012, SAS started having many financial troubles. In 2013, the airline introduced new classes on its planes to compete with budget airlines.^[11] The airline currently operates many routes in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.

Fleet

**SAS Fleet**
Type	In Service	Orders	Passengers (Business/Extra/Economy)	Routes	Notes
Airbus A319	4	0	141(0/0/141)	Europe, Scandinavia
Airbus A320	13	0	168 (0/0/168)	Europe, Scandinavia
Airbus A321	8	0	187 (0/0/187)	Europe, Scandinavia
Airbus A330-300	4	4	264 (34/35/195)	North America
Airbus A340-300	8	0	245 (46/28/171)	North America and Asia
Airbus A350 XWB		8	308 (36/32/240)	international	Deliveries in 2018
Boeing 717	5	0	115 (0/0/115)	Scandinavia
Boeing 737-400	0	0	150 (0/0/150)		retired
Boeing 737-500	0	0	120 (0/0/120)		retired
Boeing 737-600	27	0	112-123 (0/0/112-123)	Domestic, Scandinavia, Europe	Largest operator of the Boeing 737-600
Boeing 737-700	29	0	131-141 (0/0/131-141)	Norway domestic, Scandinavia, Europe
Boeing 737-800	29	0	186 (0/0/186)	Domestic, Scandinavia, Europe
Bombardier CRJ900	12	3 + 17 options	88 (0/0/88)	Domestic, Scandinavia, Europe	Dash-8 replacement aircraft.

Gallery

On-board service on SAS in 1969.
The cabin of a SAS plane
Scandinavian Airlines flight attendant and pilot.
A Scandinavian Airlines plane at Los Angeles International Airport.
A MD-80 of SAS in 2007.
Scandinavian Airlines head office

Scandinavian Airlines Media

The airline's original emblem, displaying each Scandinavian flag as coats of arms, with surmounting crowns.
A privately preserved Douglas DC-3 wearing SAS' late 1940s-style markings
A Scandinavian Airlines flight attendant serving passengers in the 1960s
Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in central Copenhagen, originally SAS Royal Hotel, designed by Arne Jacobsen and built in 1960
The company logo in the 1980s was made up of stripes in the colors of the flags of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
SAS operated flights to Greenland for more than 50 years until March 2003. The route reopened in spring 2007 until January 2009. Pictured: a Boeing 767-300ER at Kangerlussuaq Airport (2001).
A SAS Airbus A320neo in the airline's current livery.
OY-KBO, named Christian Valdemar Viking, wearing a special retro livery.
An Airbus A320-200 in the former SAS livery.