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Scandinavian Airlines

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Scandinavian Airlines System
File:Scandinavian Airlines logo.png
IATA ICAO Call sign
SK SAS Scandinavian
Founded1946
Danish carrier Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S, later a part of SAS, founded in 1918
HubsCopenhagen Airport
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Frequent-flyer programEuroBonus
AllianceStar Alliance
Fleet size164
Destinations93
Parent companySAS AB
HeadquartersStockholm, Sweden (SAS Group and Scandinavian Airlines Sverige)
Oslo, Norway (SAS Braathens)
Copenhagen, Denmark (Scandinavian Airlines Danmark and Scandinavian Airlines International)
Key peopleGunnar Reitan (acting CEO of SAS Group, Gunilla Berg (CFO of SAS Group)
Websitehttp://www.scandinavian.net

Scandinavian Airlines System is a multi-national airline for Norway, Denmark and Sweden, and the leading carrier in the Nordic countries. Based in Stockholm, Sweden and owned by SAS AB. It is a founding member of the Star Alliance. SAS operates out of two primary hubs, Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN), Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup (CPH) and SAS Braathens from its hub Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL). In 2005 Scandinavian Airlines (incl. SAS Braathens) had 27 million passengers.[1]

History

The airline was founded on August 1, 1946, when the flag carriers of Denmark, Sweden and Norway formed a partnership to handle intercontinental traffic to Scandinavia. Operations started on 17 September 1946. The companies coordinated European operations in 1948 and finally merged to form the SAS Consortium in 1951. When established the airline was divided between SAS Danmark (28.6%), SAS Norge (28.6%) and SAS Sweden (42.8%), all owned 50% by private investors and 50% by their governments.

Passengers deplaning a SAS DC-6

In 1954 SAS became the first airline in the world to operate a trans-polar route. It was from Copenhagen to Los Angeles, and it became popular with Hollywood celebrities and production people when travelling to Europe. The route was a publicity coup for the airline, which became well known as a result. Thanks to a price structure which allowed free transit to other European destinations these trans polar routes were enormously popular with American tourists in the 1950s. It would later operate trans-polar routes to East Asia as well.

SAS gradually acquired control of the domestic markets in all three countries by acquiring full or partial control of local airlines. In May 1997 SAS formed the global Star Alliance network with Air Canada, Lufthansa, Thai Airways International and United Airlines. The ownership structure of SAS was changed in June 2001, with a holding company being created in which the holdings of the governments changed to: Sweden (21.4%), Norway (14.3%) and Denmark (14.3%) and the remaining 50% publicly held and traded on the stock market. SAS employs 9147 staff. In 2004 Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) was divided into 4 different companies SAS Scandinavian Airlines Sverige AB, SAS Scandinavian Airlines Danmark AS, SAS Braathens AS and SAS Scandinavian International AS.

Airlines in Scandinavian Airlines Businesses

  • Scandinavian Airlines International

Is responsible for the SAS Group's intercontinental traffic, and operated all sales units outside Scandinavia. Scandinavian Airlines International has aprox. 900 employees.

  • Scandinavian Airlines Danmark

Is responsible for the traffic to and from Copenhagen and Gothenburg-Frankfurt. And also for developing Copenhagen airport as the SAS Group's main hub. Scandinavian Airlines DK is also responsible for the sales units within Denmark. The company has about 2000 employees.

  • Scandinavian Airlines Sweden

Is responsible for the traffic to and from Stockholm and Gothenburg-London. Scandinavian Airlines SE is also responsible for the sales units within Sweden. The company has about 2000 employees.

SAS Braathens is the result of the merger of SAS Norway and Braathens. SAS Braathens is responsible for the traffic with-in Norway. SAS Braathens is also responsible for the sales units within Norway.


SAS Airbus A340-313X
SAS McDonnell Douglas MD-82
SAS Boeing 737-600
File:Sas.a.321.se-reg.arp.750pix.jpg
SAS Boeing 737-600

Destinations

Further information: [[:Scandinavian Airlines System destinations]]


  • Scandinavian Airlines serves 60 destinations from Copenhagen
    • 2 Domestic destination
    • 50 European destinations
    • 8 Intercontinental destination


  • Scandinavian Airlines serves 45 destinations from Stockholm
    • 13 Domestic destinations
    • 30 European destinations
    • 2 Intercontinental destinations


  • SAS Braathens serves 42 destinations from Oslo
    • 15 Domestic destinations
    • 27 European destinations


  • Scandinavian Airlines serves 4 destinations from Gothenburg (13 more on code-share)
    • 1 Domestic destination
    • 3 European destinations


  • SAS Braathens serves 11 destinations from Bergen
    • 7 Domestic destination
    • 4 European destinations


  • SAS Braathens serves 10 destinations from Stavanger
    • 5 Domestic destination
    • 5 European destinations


  • SAS Braathens serves 8 destinations from Trondheim
    • 7 Domestic destination
    • 1 European destinations

Fleet

The Scandinavian Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft as of June 2006: (164 aircraft) [2]

Type Number Seats Notes
Airbus A340-300 7 261 SAS International
Airbus A330-300 4 261 SAS International
Airbus A321-200 8 184 SAS Denmark
Airbus A319-100 2 124 SAS Denmark
Boeing 737-800 12 132-179 SAS Braathens, SAS Sweden
Boeing 737-700 15 131-134 SAS Braathens
Boeing 737-600 27 95-123 SAS Braathens, SAS Sweden
Boeing 737-500 14 120 SAS Braathens
Boeing 737-300 4 150 SAS Braathens
deHavilland Q400 24 58-72 SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden
Fokker F50 6 58 SAS Braathens
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 15 120 SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 25 141-145 SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden
McDonnell Douglas MD-81 9 141-145 SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden

Note: Fleet from Scandinavian Airlines and SAS Braathens only.

The average age of the SAS fleet is 9.9 years as of June 2006.

On order

Type Number Seats Notes
Airbus A319-100 2 124 Delivery spring 2007
Boeing 737 2 ? Delivery 2007

Order Update

SAS first A319 was delivered on 8 August 2006. The first of four brand new A319 aircraft for SAS has been painted in the company's 1950s and 1960s livery [3], similar to US Airways' and Lufthansa's "retrojets". This was done to celebrate the 60th anniversary of SAS as the oldest multinational airline in the world. The idea for the special paint scheme came from the staff of SAS Denmark, and the aircraft in question will be named Christian Valdemar Viking, after the Danish crown prince's firstborn child. The aircraft will be given the registration OY-KBO.

According to Børsen, SAS is planning to operate its fleet of A319s on routes to Düsseldorf International Airport, Munich International Airport, Frankfurt International Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Charles de Gaulle International Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Vienna International Airport, Geneva Cointrin International Airport and Zürich International Airport.

Livery

SAS's livery is a Eurowhite scheme, composed of primarily white with blue and red accents.

Airline Affinity Programs

  • Frequent flyer programs: SAS own program EuroBonus, you can also earn points on other Star Alliance Frequent flyer programs.
  • Membership clubs: Fly Home Club, for Scandinavians living abroad.

Services

Scanorama, the company inflight magazine
  • Domestic
    • One class: sandwiches and drinks are available for purchase, breakfast is free on Swedish domestic flights.


  • Intra-Scandinavia
    • One class: sandwiches and cold drinks are available for purchase, breakfast, coffee and tea are free on intra-Scandinavian flights.


  • Europe
    • Economy Class: sandwiches and drinks are available for purchase.
    • Economy Flex: three-course cold meal or cold breakfast (shorter flights two-course meal) (Fast-track at the Security at ARN and CPH)
    • Business, three-course hot meal or hot breakfast (shorter flights cold three-course meal) (Fast-track at the Security at ARN and CPH and access to lounges)


  • Intercontinental
    • Economy Class: cocktails before dinner, and a three-course dinner is served. Start with a salad, a hot meal and fresh bread and dessert. Coffee or tea and avec are also served. Between meals you can ask for juice, water, snacks and sandwiches depending on the length of the flight. Before landing on nighttime flights breakfast will be served before landing. On daytime flights a cold meal will be served.
    • Economy Extra: juice upon boarding, cocktails and cold snacks is served before dinner, A three-course dinner is served. Start with a salad, choose between two hot main dishes and fresh bread and dessert. Coffee or tea with brandy (cognac/liquer) is also served. Between meals you can ask for juice, water, snacks and sandwiches depending on the length of the flight. A hot breakfast or lunch is served on Asian flights, while on US flights a snack or breakfast is served. (Fast-track at the Security at ARN and CPH)
    • Business: upon boarding cocktails are served, cocktails and cold snacks will be served before dinner. A full three-course dinner. Mixed salad, first course and a choice of four different hot meals for your main course. There is always one vegetarian alternative. A selection of cheese and dessert is served together with coffee or tea with brandy (cognac/liquer). Alternatively, there is the option of a light cold meal on all night flights, served before the main dinner service. In between meals you can go to the buffet in the galley to serve yourself a wide range of coffee and sandwiches. On nighttime flights breakfast will be served before landing, with an option of choosing an express breakfast instead. On daytime flights a second meal will be served. (Fast-track at the Security at ARN and CPH and access to lounges)

Incidents and accidents

  • On July 4, 1948, a DC-6 collided with a British military plane by Northwood north of London. All 32 onboard were killed.
  • On January 19, 1960, a Caravelle crashed near Ankara. All 42 onboard were killed.
  • On January 13, 1969, a DC-8-62, LN-MOO, hit the water while approaching Los Angeles. 15 of the 45 onboard were killed.
  • On January 30, 1973, a DC-9, SAS flight 370, Oslo-Alta via Tromsø. At 23:18 the crew was cleared for takeoff from runway 24. The takeoff run was normal and the DC-9 rotated at VR (125kts). At that moment the stall warning system activated. Although the speed had increased to 140 knots, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. The remaining 1100m however was not enough to bring the aircraft to a halt. The reversers did not deploy completely and the aircraft overran the runway and onto the ice covered Oslofjord. The DC-9 came to rest 20m from the bank of the fjord. All passengers and crew evacuated before the plane broke through the ice and sank 20 minutes later.
  • On February 28, 1984, SAS Flight 901, a DC-10 named 'Haakon Viking' departed Stockholm for a flight to New York JFK. The aircraft touched down 1440m past the runway 4R threshold. The crew steered the plane to the right side off the runway to avoid approach lights. The DC-10 ended up in shallow water. All onboard the plane survived and were uninjured.
  • On December 27, 1991, SAS flight 751, a MD-81, crashed at Gottröra, Sweden. On initial climb both engines ingested ice and stalled, leaving the aircraft with no propulsion. The aircraft made a forced landing in a field and broke in three parts. No fire broke out and all aboard the plane survived.
  • The worst SAS accident occurred in 2001 in Milan, Italy, when an MD-87 collided with a small Cessna jet during take-off and left 114 people dead. It has been established that the cause of the accident was a misunderstanding between air traffic controllers and the Cessna jet, and that the SAS crew had no role in causing the accident.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SAS Scandinavian Airlines.

Company websites

Other websites

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