Airline Chronological History
SAS Scandinavian Airlines has a long legacy dating back to 1918, at the early days of aviation around the world. However, at that time, it was not yet known by its present name. All 3 countries in Scandinavia, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, initiated their own travel companies, with mail and then passenger transport taking place respectively.
In Denmark, the Det Danske Luftfartselskab (DDL), was established on the 29 October 1918, but started its first scheduled route on 7 August 1920 when it, took its first airplane, a Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen 49c. It was acquired from the Deutsche LuftReederei (D.L.R.) in Germany, although this was returned one year later. In 1921 another F.F.49c plane from D.L.R. was acquired as a replacement for the first. In the early 1920s, the airline relied on four chartered Fokker-Grulich F.III aircraft, but also Dornier Komet, Junkers F.13s and the Airco DH.9.
The early days of Danish aviation can trace it roots back to 1920 with the Det Danske Luftfartselskab (airline), operating with a Flugzeugbau (plane) Friedrichshafen 49c (Photo:revolvy.com) 
Junkers F13 joined the Danish fleet in the early 1920's (all initial aircraft came from Germany). (Photo:oy-reg.dk) 
An early begining to aviation in the 1920's in front of the company's hangar with an Airco DH.9 bi-plane. (Photo:oy-reg.dk) In 1926 the first of a total of four Farman F.121 Jabiru 4-engined commercial airliners, seating nine passengers, were acquired, used on the Copenhagen to Amsterdam line. In 1933, the airline got the first of two 16 passenger Fokker F.XII airliners. In 1938, two Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor 26 passenger airliners were acquired. In 1946, the airline started intercontinental traffic in cooperation with Det Norske Luftfartselskap and Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik, the other two airlines in Norway and Sweden respectively.
In 1926, the airline acquired the Farman F.121 Jabiru capable of carrying 9 passengers. (Photo:oy-reg.dk) 
In 1933 the DDL took two Fokker F.XIIs. This one outlived the end of the war and was scrapped in 1946.(Photo: edcoatescollection.com) The cooperation between the 3 airlines worked beyond expectations, so it was decided that all their operations should run under one name to better administrative traffic and growth opportunities for all airlines. Scandinavian Airline System was then founded on 1 August 1946, when Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik AB (the airline owned by the Swedish Wallenberg family), Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S, and Det Norske Luftfartselskap AS (the flag carriers of Denmark and Norway) merged together.
The original Danish airline, DDL, therefore changed status from being an active airline into becoming a holding company for the Danish interests within SAS. The 3 airlines, (ABA, DDL and DNL) all bought used Douglas C-47 Skytrain from the US Air Force and converted them to civilian airliners. The aircraft were the domestic and European workhorses for the airlines, and served as the main work horses with the establishment of SAS which were delivered from 1948 onwards. Other airframes operated at the time was the Vickers-ArmstrongsVC.1B Viking, Junkers Ju 52/3m and the Short BrothersS.25 Sandringham Mk VI.
In 1948, DC-47's (DC-3) were made into civilian aircraft and put into service on the domestic and European routes out of Scandinavia. (Photo:oy-reg.dk) In 1948 the Swedish flag carrier AB Aerotransport joined SAS and the companies coordinated European operations 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 Sverige (42.8%), all owned 50% by private investors and 50% by their governments. In 1954 SAS was the first airline to start scheduled flights on a polar route. The DC6B, which were revolutionary at the time were bought and flew from Copenhagen to Los Angeles, California, United States with stops in Greenland and Canada. By summer 1956 frequency had increased to three flights per week. It was popular with Hollywood celebrities and film industry people, and the route turned out to be a publicity coup for SAS.
The DC-6B was advanced airliner at the time, allowing for trans-polar flights between Copenhagen and Los Angeles from 1952. (Photo:airliners.net) In 1957 SAS started a second polar route when a DC-7C flew from Copenhagen to Tokyo, Japan, via the Anchorage International Airport. SAS entered the jet age in 1959 when the Caravelle entered service, they were at first used on European routes, but were gradually transferred to domestic services, especially in Sweden. Douglas DC-8 then joined the fleet the next year in 1960. The choice of the DC-8 over the Boeing 707 was more based on SAS' good relations with Douglas rather than that it was well-suited for SAS' needs. The jet aircraft tripled the supply of seats on the transatlantic flights, which could not be met with increased traffic. The DC-9 was the first jetliner ordered by the airline for short- and medium-haul flights, replacing the Metropolitans and Viscounts. For its long haul flights it also operated the improved variants of the DC-8-55/62/63 from 1965. It wasn't till 1971, that SAS put its first Boeing 747 jumbo jet into service.
SAS joined the jet age in 1959, when the French Caravelle entered service on European routes. (Photo:planespotters.net) 
More popular DC-8-33 came in 1960, but were deemed to be have over capacity at the time. (Photo:airliners.net) 
The Jumbo 747-200 arrived in 1971, enabled the airline to fly transpolar and trans-atlantic flights to Asia and America. (Photo:aviationphotocompany.com) During the 1980's SAS operated a number of aircraft, all of which because of close proximity with Douglas, led it to operate nearly all variants of the manufacturers aircraft, including the DC-10 in 1974, Dc-9-53 in 1983, MD-81/82 in 1985 and the MD-83/87 in 1988. During 1989, SAS also started looking at other planes to help it replace its long haul fleet, so it received in 1989 and 1990 new Boeing 767-300 and -200 respectively.
SAS gradually acquired control of the domestic markets in all three countries by acquiring full or partial control of local airlines, including Braathens and Widerøe in Norway, Linjeflyg and Skyways Express in Sweden, and Cimber Air in Denmark. During the 1990s, SAS also bought a 20% stake in British Midland. SAS bought 95% of Spanair, the second largest airline in Spain, as well as Air Greenland. However there were plans to dispose of all of these holdings and an agreement to divest more than 80 percent of the holdings in Spanair, to a Catalan group of investors.
In 1974 the DC-10 also joined the fleet. (Photo:wikipedia.org) 
With the DC-9-51 SAS operated routes to Europe with the type from 1983. (Photo:wikipedia.org) 
In 1988 the MD-87 formed the backbone of the SAS fleet for nearly 25 years. (Photo:wikipedia.org) In May 1997, SAS formed the global Star Alliance network with Air Canada, Lufthansa, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines.
SAS was one of the funding members of the Star Alliance in 1997. (Photo:reddit.com) During the late 1990's SAS took delivery also of other aircraft types to slowly replace the aging MD-82/83/87, these new Boeing 737-600/7/800 arrived from 1998 to 2000 respectively. 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.
The livery was updated in 1998. SAS aircraft look predominantly white, however, the fuselage is in a very light beige with "Scandinavian" above the windows in silver lettering.
In 1998, SAS changed its livery and also introduced Boeing 737-600 (pictured) to replace the MD-82-87 range. (Photo:Airplane-Pictures.net) During the turn of the century and the rise of low cost airlines in Europe together with a post 9-11 effect SAS realised it had to act quickly if it wanted to stay at the head of the market. The airline received its first Airbus A321 to operate its trunk routes to Europe and A330 and A340-300 as well in 2001 for the long haul routes to Asia and America.
The Airbus A321 was welcomed to the fleet in 2001. (Photo:jetphotos.com) 
Long haul flights were replaced by Airbus A340-300 (pictured) and A330 from 2001. (Photo:aeroinside.com) In 2004 Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) was divided into four companies; SAS Scandinavian Airlines Sverige AB, SAS Scandinavian Airlines Danmark A/S, SAS Braathens AS, and SAS Scandinavian International AS. SAS Braathens was rebranded SAS Scandinavian Airlines Norge AS in 2007. In October 2009 the four companies were once again united into one company, SAS Scandinavian System AB. SAS received the first CRJ-900 on 3 December 2008 to operate regional services, in cooperation with it’s regional subsidiaries.
The CRJ-900 joined the fleet in 2008 to operate regional routes on behalf of SAS subsidiaries. (Photo:jetphotos.com) With the coming of low-cost airlines and decreasing fares in Scandinavia the business turned into the red. To be profitable again, the airline had to cut costs. In a first step the airline sold its stakes in other companies, such as BMI, Spanair, and AirBaltic. It also closed it’s handling bases outside of Scandinavia in 2010. The next big cost-cutting measure followed by the end of 2011. On 20 June 2011, SAS announced an order for 30 new A320neo aircraft as part of its fleet harmonisation plan. SAS' stated goal is to have an all-Airbus fleet at their bases in Stockholm and Copenhagen by 2019, with a mixed A320neo and A320ceo fleet operation at both bases. The base in Oslo will then operate mostly Boeing 737-800 aircraft. On 25 June 2013, SAS ordered eight A350-900 with six options, and four A330-300E, originally planned to replace the aging A340-300 in 2015.
Despite high load factors, SAS suspended its flagship route between Copenhagen and Bangkok over the summer months of 2013. This route was served without any interruption over the last sixty years. On the other side, SAS renewed the leasing agreements to be able to expand its long-haul fleet and used the new A330-300Es to add more long-haul USA destinations to its network. As of November 2013, there was the expectation that the company would show 2013 as its first profitable year since 2007.
The Airbus A330-300 joined in 2001, but was complemented again in 2015 with 4 more aircraft. (Photo:airbus.com) In 2017, it was announced that SAS would form a new airline, Scandinavian Airlines Ireland, operating out of Heathrow Airport and Malaga Airport to fly European routes on its parent’s behalf using nine new A320Neo aircraft. The first of the order of A320neos was delivered in October 2016.
SAS received it's first new Airbus A320neo in October 2016 which helped to replace older Airbus model and improve fuel efficiently. (Photo: Airbus.com) In April 2018, SAS announced an order of 50 more A320neos to replace all 737NGs and older A320ceos in service as part of their goal to have an all-Airbus fleet by 2023.
SAS received its first of eight A350-900 versions of the A350 XWB in November 2019, with the Scandinavian carrier targeted to introduce Airbus’ latest generation, highly efficient widebody aircraft on the Copenhagen-Chicago long-haul route followed by other cities in North America and Asia.
In 2019, SAS continued a period of modernization and expansion, supported by the introduction of new long-haul aircraft such as the Airbus A350-900. These aircraft were intended to replace older Airbus A340s and improve fuel efficiency on intercontinental routes, particularly between Scandinavia and North America and Asia.
The first A350 for SAS was received in November 2019 for long haul operations. (Photo: Airbus.com) At the same time, SAS continued expanding its narrowbody fleet with Airbus A320neo aircraft, part of a broader strategy to standardize operations and reduce costs while increasing frequency on European routes.
However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 dramatically disrupted SAS’s trajectory. Like most global carriers, SAS was forced to ground large portions of its fleet, suspend numerous international routes, and significantly reduce capacity.
The airline responded by accelerating cost-cutting initiatives, renegotiating labour agreements, and relying on state-backed financial support from Scandinavian governments.
In the years immediately following the peak of the pandemic (2021–2022), SAS began rebuilding its network and operational structure. A key development was the establishment and expansion of new subsidiaries such as SAS Link, which commenced operations in 2022 using Embraer E195 aircraft to serve regional Scandinavian routes more efficiently. Alongside this, the airline expanded the role of SAS Connect, operating Airbus A320neo aircraft from bases outside Scandinavia to improve cost competitiveness on European routes. At the same time new more economical aircraft joined SAS, such as the A321LR with the first delivery in October 2020 with another unit in 2021 and one more in 2022.
SAS Link, which commenced operations in 2022, started using Embraer E195 aircraft to serve regional Scandinavian routes. (Photo: Planespotters.net) 
For thinner long haul routes to the USA, SAS incorporated the A321LR in October 2020 with one unit, with another unit in 2021 and one more in 2022. (Photo: Planespotters.net) Despite these efforts, financial pressures intensified, leading SAS to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States in July 2022. This marked a critical turning point in the airline’s history. The restructuring process aimed to reduce debt, renegotiate contracts, optimize fleet composition, and secure new investment. During this period, SAS also made significant fleet adjustments, including returning aircraft to lessors and reconsidering long-haul capacity, partly due to the closure of Russian airspace, because of the ongoing war with between Ukraine and Russia, which made Asian routes less viable and more costly to operate.
By 2023, SAS had begun to outline a new strategic direction under its “SAS Forward” restructuring plan. A major milestone came in October 2023, when it was announced that Air France-KLM, along with investment firms and the Danish government, would take ownership stakes in the airline. This development signalled a fundamental shift in SAS’s alliances and partnerships. As part of the restructuring, SAS decided to leave the long-standing Star Alliance and instead join the SkyTeam, aligning itself with Air France-KLM and its global network.
In 2024, SAS successfully exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, marking the beginning of what company leadership described as a “new era.” The restructuring eliminated over $2 billion in debt and introduced a new ownership structure. At the same time, SAS implemented operational changes, including partnerships with regional carriers such as Braathens Regional Airlines to enhance domestic connectivity within Sweden and feed traffic into its main hub at Copenhagen.
From 2024 onward, SAS increasingly emphasized Copenhagen as its central global hub, shifting capacity and strategic focus toward the Danish capital. SAS announced it would leave Star Alliance by 31 August 2024, becoming a SkyTeam member the next day, as confirmed on the 1st of September 2024.
SAS left Star Alliance on the 31 August 2024, becoming a full SkyTeam member on the 1st September 2024 as the KLM-Air France group took a major stake in the Scandinavian company. (Photo: Planespotters.net) For the summer 2025 season, SAS announced its largest-ever network expansion, introducing dozens of new and re-established routes across Europe and beyond, including destinations such as Madrid, Budapest, Kraków, Lyon, and Nuuk. The airline also expanded its winter 2025/2026 program with new routes to cities such as Vienna, Tel Aviv, Marrakech, Madeira, and Fuerteventura, while increasing frequencies on existing routes and significantly boosting seat capacity.
Fleet modernization also continued has remained central to SAS’s post-pandemic strategy. The use of the Airbus A321LR on transatlantic routes allowed SAS to operate thinner long-haul routes more efficiently, increasing flexibility in its North American network.
By 2025 and 2026, SAS had firmly repositioned itself as a restructured, partnership-driven airline with a clear focus on profitability and network optimization. On 4 July 2025, Air France-KLM announced its intention to increase its stake in SAS’s share capital from 19.9% to 60.5%. The airline celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2026, highlighting its historical role in connecting Scandinavia with the world while emphasizing its transformation into a more competitive and resilient carrier.
The airline celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2026, highlighting its historical role in connecting Scandinavia with the world. It revealed this striking blue livery for the occasion with an Airbus A330-300 (Photo: Planespotters.net) Looking toward the future, SAS’s plans are closely tied to its new ownership structure and alliance alignment. With Air France-KLM seeking to increase its stake to a majority shareholding, SAS is expected to deepen integration within the SkyTeam alliance.
SAS has always been an airline for innovation and leadership and so is trying to continue in the current markets with increased competition from low cost airlines. It continues to attract important business between USA and Asia where it has a strong position. As it modernises it's fleet and rolls out new aircraft it's looking forward for many more years of bright success.
SAS’s plans are closely tied to its new ownership structure and alliance alignment with Air France-KLM, as a result SAS is expected to deepen integration within the SkyTeam alliance. (Phto: FLYSAS.com)
Airline Factual Information
As of 2026, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, including its regional operators SAS Connect and SAS Link, serves roughly 120 destinations in total, with about 40 of these classified as domestic routes within its three home markets of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, while approximately 80 destinations are international across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia; taken together, the airline’s network spans around 30 countries.
The airline's main hub is at Copenhagen Airport, with connections to over 50 cities in Europe. Also, a secondary hub at Stockholm Arlanda Airport (with more than 30 European connections) and another hub at Oslo Airport. Other focus cities include also Bergen, Flesland, Göteborg, Stavanger and Trondheim where SAS has a major presence.
In the last few years SAS has expanded its presence in the North American continent and making its tickets more appealing and affordable to compete with new competition, specially in the low cost markets. Its products now includes a Business Class or a Economy cabin, where you can select basic fares which include only hand luggage and add extras at a later stage. SAS has a strong passenger service reputation and an efficient handling service making the airline one of the most punctual airlines in Europe.
SAS flies to the following destinations* including those operated by its regional subsidiaries SAS Connect and SAS Link:
Region 🗺️
Destinations 🌍🌎🌏
Domestic (Scandinavia Hubs)
• Denmark: Aalborg, Aarhus, Billund, Copenhagen, Rønne • Norway: Ålesund, Alta, Bardufoss, Bergen, Bodø, Harstad/Narvik, Haugesund, Kirkenes, Kristiansand, Kristiansund, Lakselv, Longyearbyen, Oslo, Stavanger, Tromsø, Trondheim • Sweden: Ängelholm, Gothenburg, Kalmar, Kiruna, Linköping, Luleå, Malmö, Östersund, Ronneby, Sälen-Trysil, Skellefteå, Stockholm, Sundsvall, Umeå, Visby
Europe
• Albania: Tirana • Austria: Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna • Belgium: Brussels • Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo • Bulgaria: Varna • Croatia: Dubrovnik, Pula, Split, Zadar • Cyprus: Larnaca • Czech Republic: Prague • Estonia: Tallinn • Faroe Islands: Sørvágur • Finland: Helsinki, Kittilä, Rovaniemi, Tampere, Turku, Vaasa • France: Biarritz, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, Paris • Germany: Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart • Greece: Athens, Chania, Corfu, Heraklion, Kalamata, Karpathos, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Thessaloniki, Zakynthos • Hungary: Budapest • Iceland: Reykjavík • Ireland: Dublin • Italy: Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Pisa, Rome, Venice • Latvia: Riga • Lithuania: Palanga, Vilnius • Luxembourg: Luxembourg City • Malta: Luqa • Montenegro: Tivat • Netherlands: Amsterdam • Poland: Gdańsk, Kraków, Poznań, Warsaw, Wrocław • Portugal: Faro, Funchal, Lisbon, Porto • Spain: Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Fuerteventura, Ibiza, Las Palmas, Madrid, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Seville, Tenerife, Valencia • Switzerland: Geneva, Zurich • Turkey: Antalya, Dalaman, Gazipaşa, Istanbul • United Kingdom: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, London, Manchester
North America
• Canada: Toronto • United States: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Newark, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C.
Asia
• China: Shanghai • Japan: Tokyo • South Korea: Seoul • Thailand: Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket
Africa & Middle East
• Lebanon: Beirut • Morocco: Agadir, Marrakesh • United Arab Emirates: Dubai
Updated April 2026
The SAS fleet as undergone a major upgrade in the last decade from transitioning to a mixed fleet to a more lean all Airbus operated fleet, with the exception of its subsidiary SAS Link which operates with Embraer E195 aircraft. The airline, has reduced its size since it recovered from the Covid19 pandemic and the partial investment by the KLM-Air France group in 2024. At present the airline totals a fleet of over 115 aircraft. (including the subsidiaries of SAS Connect and SAS Link).
The current fleet* of SAS Scandinavian Airlines consists of the following aircraft:
Aircraft Type
In Service
On Order
Configuration (F, C, P, Y)
Embraer E195
16
0
(Y) 2-2
Airbus A319-100
4
0
(Y) 3-3
Airbus A320-200
5
0
(Y) 3-3
Airbus A320neo
65
12
(Y) 3-3
Airbus A321LR
3
0
(C) 2-2 / (P) 2-2 / (Y) 3-3
Airbus A330-300
8
0
(C) 1-2-1 / (P) 2-3-2 / (Y) 2-4-2
Airbus A350-900
6
0
(C) 1-2-1 / (P) 2-4-2 / (Y) 3-3-3
Updated April 2026
(Configuration: C = Business Class, P = Premium Economy , Y = Economy)
Reviews and comments ⭐
What Stands Out 😀👍 | Needs Improvement 🫤👎 |
✅ Punctuality Records: Passengers frequently note that SAS often leads European rankings for on-time performance, making them a reliable choice for tight schedules. | 👎 Baggage Mishandling: A significant number of recent reviews cite lost or delayed luggage, particularly on connecting flights through Copenhagen or Oslo hubs. |
✅ Modern Cabin Interiors: The newer Airbus A320neo and A350 aircraft are praised for their clean, minimalist Scandinavian design and quiet cabin environment. | 👎 Diminished "Flag Carrier" Service: Many travelers express disappointment that basic amenities like water and snacks are now "buy-on-board" for most Economy tickets. |
✅ Professional Crew: When flights run smoothly, cabin staff are often described as kind, professional, and helpful, especially on long-haul routes to the US and Asia. | 👎 Difficult Customer Support: Customers report long wait times on phone lines and a "useless" automated chatbot when trying to resolve refund or booking issues. |
✅ Smooth Digital Experience: The SAS mobile app is highly rated by frequent flyers for its ease of use during check-in and real-time gate notifications. | 👎 Inconsistent Refund Processes: There are numerous complaints regarding the difficulty of receiving compensation for cancelled flights or legally mandated baggage claims. |
✅ Efficient Boarding: Travelers often highlight the organized and fast boarding processes at Scandinavian airports compared to other major European hubs. | 👎 Cramped Seating: Reviewers on short-to-medium haul flights frequently complain about the lack of legroom and "thin" seats on the older regional fleet. |
*Reviews are collected from independent sites and compelled by the most representative reviews and comments. Planet Airlines Ltd remains impartial to any airlines.