Scandinavian Airlines System

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Scandinavian Airlines System
IATA
SK		 ICAO
SAS		 Callsign
SCANDINAVIAN
Founded 1946
Danish carrier Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S, later a part of SAS, founded in 1918
Hubs Copenhagen Airport
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport
Frequent flyer program EuroBonus
Member lounge Scandinavian Lounge & Business Lounge
Alliance Star Alliance
Fleet size Total: 125
SAS International: 11
SAS Sweden: 45
SAS Denmark: 46
Leased out/Not in use: 23
Destinations 82
Parent company SAS AB
Headquarters Stockholm, Sweden
*SAS Group, SAS AB
*Scandinavian Airlines Sverige
Copenhagen, Denmark
*Scandinavian Airlines Danmark
*Scandinavian Airlines Intercontinental
Key people Gunnar Reitan (acting CEO of SAS Group, Gunilla Berg (CFO of SAS Group)
Website: http://www.scandinavian.net

Scandinavian Airlines System is a multi-national airline for Denmark and Sweden, SAS Braathens for Norway 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]

Contents

[edit] 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 disembarking an SAS DC-6
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Passengers disembarking an 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.

In 1957 SAS was the first airline to offer "round the world service over the North Pole" via the North Pole shortcut, Copenhagen-Anchorage-Tokyo.

In 1959 SAS entered the jet age. The first jet aircraft, the Caravelle in service. In 1971 SAS puts its first Boeing 747 jumbo jet into service.

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.

[edit] Subsidiaries

  • 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.

[edit] Destinations

Further information: Scandinavian Airlines System destinations

Scandinavian Airlines has announced 10 new routes out from Stockholm in 2007, to Beijing (4 flights/week), Trondheim (1 daily flight), Malaga (3 flights/week), Palma de Mallorca (1 flight/week), Glasgow (2 flights/week), Reykjavik (3 flights/week and Munich (1 flight/day). The other 3 are summer routes from Stockholm to Bergen (5 flights/week), Lyon (2 flights/week) and Bristol (2 flights/week.)

[edit] Fleet

SAS Airbus A340-313X
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SAS Airbus A340-313X
SAS McDonnell Douglas MD-82
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SAS McDonnell Douglas MD-82
SAS Boeing 737-600
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SAS Boeing 737-600

The Scandinavian Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft as of August 2006:[1]

SAS Scandanavian Airlines Fleet
Type Total Passengers
(Business/Extra/Economy)		 Routes Notes
Airbus A319-100 2
(2 Orders)		 124 European SAS Denmark
Airbus A321-200 8 184 European SAS Denmark
Airbus A330-300 4 261 (54/24/183) New York, Chicago, Washington SAS International
Airbus A340-300 7 261 (54/24/183) Asia, Seattle SAS International
Boeing 737-600 18 95-123 European SAS Sweden
Boeing 737-800 4 132-179 European SAS Sweden
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 24 58-72 European SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden
McDonnell Douglas MD-81 5 141-145 European SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 31 141-145 European SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 11 120 European SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden

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

[edit] Order update

[edit] Airbus A319

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 [2], 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 A319 fleet 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.

[edit] Retired fleet

[edit] Fingerprint biometric identification

In 2006 SAS Sweden launch a new biometric system throughout Sweden. The pasenger's finger print is matched to the checked baggage, improving security. The new technology will be introduced to all SAS airports in Sweden.

[edit] Cabin

Scanorama, the company inflight magazine
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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: a three-course cold meal or cold breakfast (shorter flights two-course meal) (Fast-track at the Security at ARN and CPH)
    • Business: a three-course hot meal or hot breakfast. On shorter flights a cold three-course meal is served. (Fast-track at security at ARN and CPH and access to lounges.)
  • Intercontinental
    • Economy Class: cocktails before dinner, and a three-course dinner is served (incl. 1 alc. beverage.) The starter is typically a salad, followed by a hot meal, fresh bread and dessert. Coffee or tea is also served. Between meals juice, water, snacks and sandwiches are available, depending on the length of the flight. Avec and other alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. On nighttime flights, breakfast is served before landing. On daytime flights a cold meal is served.
    • Economy Extra: juice upon boarding, cocktails and cold snacks are served before dinner. A three-course dinner is then served. The starter is normally a salad, followed by a choice between two hot main dishes, accompanied by fresh bread and dessert. Coffee or tea with brandy, cognac or liquer is also served. Between meals juice, water, snacks and sandwiches are available, 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, and cocktails and cold snacks are available before dinner. A full three-course dinner follows. The starter is again a mixed salad, followed by a first course and a choice of four different hot meals for the main course. There is always one vegetarian alternative. A selection of cheeses and desserts 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 there is a the buffet in the galley serving a 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 security at ARN and CPH and access to lounges.)

[edit] Euro Bonus

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

[edit] SAS lounges

[edit] Locations

The following locations are SAS Scandinavian, Stockholm, and Business locations:

EuroBonus Gold card members are allowed to use partner clubs, which offer more clubs in more locations. For partner club information, visit www.flysas.com: [3].

[edit] Partners

Except the agreements SAS has to its Star Alliance partners SAS also have strategic agreements with Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian and United. The agreement includes code sharing and time tables are suited for easier connections between SAS and the other airlines. SAS also have co-operations with the other airlines with in the SAS Group.

[edit] Incidents and accidents

  • On July 4, 1948, a DC-6B, SE-BDA collided with a British military plane at Northwood, north of London, England. All 32 onboard were killed.
  • On January 19, 1960, a Caravelle III, OY-KRB crashed near Ankara, Turkey. 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 April 19, 1970 a DC-8-62, SE-DBE, experienced an uncontained engine fire during takeoff from Rome. Aircraft burned out, but all onboard managed to evacuate safely.
  • On January 30, 1973, a DC-9-21, LN-RLM SAS flight 370, Oslo-Alta via Tromsø, 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. All passengers and crew evacuated before the plane broke through the ice and sank 20 minutes later. The reason for the continued takeoff in spite of the rather high speed was the fact, that the flight crew had received outdated (by several hours) runway reports giving much better braking coefficients than the actual ones.
  • On February 28, 1984, SAS Flight 901, DC-10, LN-RKB 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 were uninjured.
  • On December 27, 1991, SAS flight 751, a MD-81, OY-KHO crashlanded at Gottröra, Sweden. In the initial climb both engines ingested ice breaking loose from the wings, which had not been properly deiced before departure. Both engines destroyed, leaving the aircraft with no propulsion. The aircraft landed in a field and broke in three parts. No fire broke out and all aboard the plane survived. Captain Stefan G. Rasmussen was later decorated by the Danish Queen for his outstanding and professional performance.
  • The worst SAS accident occurred on October 8 2001 in Milan, Italy, when an MD-87, SE-DMA 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. Another factor was the fact that the ground movement radar was inoperative at the time of the accident.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006

[edit] External links

 Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Company websites

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v • d • e
  Members of the Star Alliance
Air Canada • Air New Zealand • ANA • Asiana Airlines • Austrian Airlines • bmi
LOT Polish Airlines • Lufthansa • Scandinavian Airlines • Singapore Airlines • South African Airways
Spanair • Swiss • TAP Portugal • Thai Airways • United Airlines • US Airways • Varig

Regional members: Adria Airways • Blue1 • Croatia Airlines
Future members: Air China • Shanghai Airlines • Turkish Airlines
Former members: Ansett Australia • Mexicana
SAS Group, SAS AB
Scandinavian Airlines Business Scandinavian Airlines Danmark | Scandinavian Airlines Sverige | SAS Business Opportunities | SAS Braathens
Subsidiaries airBaltic | Blue1 | Spanair | Widerøe
Affiliated Air Greenland | Aerolineas de Baleares | bmi | Estonian Air | Skyways Express
Destinations SAS Group destinations | Scandinavian Airlines destinations | SAS Braathens destinations | Spanair destinations | Widerøe destinations
Airline Support Business SAS Cargo Group | SAS Media | SAS Flight Academy | SAS Technical Services | SAS Ground Services
Alliances Star Alliance | WOW Alliance
History DDL (1946) | DNL (1946) | SILA (1946) | ABA (1948) | Linjeflyg (1992) | Braathens (2001)
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