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 Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Frequent flyer program		EuroBonus
Member lounge		Scandinavian Lounge & Business Lounge
Alliance		Star Alliance
Fleet size		Total: 183 SAS International: 11 SAS Sweden: 45 SAS Denmark: 46 SAS Braathens: 58 Leased out/Not in use: 23
Destinations		102
Parent company		SAS AB
Headquarters		Stockholm, Sweden *SAS Group, SAS AB *Scandinavian Airlines Sverige Copenhagen, Denmark *Scandinavian Airlines Danmark *Scandinavian Airlines Intercontinental
Key people		Mats Jansson (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. It is also the founder of Spanair and the former charterairline Scanair. SAS operates out of three primary hubs, Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, Copenhagen Airport and Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. In 2006 Scandinavian Airlines (incl. SAS Braathens) had 38,6 million passengers.^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Subsidiaries 3 Destinations 4 Fleet 4.1 Retired fleet 5 Fingerprint biometric identification 6 Cabin 7 Euro Bonus 8 SAS lounges 8.1 Locations 9 Partners 10 Incidents and accidents 11 See also 12 References 13 External links

[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 Sverige (42.8%), all owned 50% by private investors and 50% by their governments.

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 from Copenhagen to other European countries, as well as for Danish domestic routes. Scandinavian Airlines Danmark is responsible 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 from Stockholm to other European countries, as well as for Swedish domestic routes. Scandinavian Airlines Sweden is also responsible for the sales units within Sweden. The company has about 2000 employees.

• SAS Braathens

SAS Braathens is the result of the merger of SAS Norway and Braathens. SAS Braathens is responsible for the traffic within Norway, as well as for the routes from Norway to other Eurorean countries. SAS Braathens is also responsible for the sales units within Norway.

• SAS Business Opportunities

[edit] Destinations

Main article: Scandinavian Airlines System destinations

Further information: SAS Group destinations

News Scandinavian Airlines has announced 11 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), Munich (1 flight/day) and Vienna (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.) SAS has also announced three seasanol routes from Copenhagen to Pristina (1 flight/week), to Greenland (3 flights/week)[1] starting May 2007 and to Dubai ( 3 flights/week) starting October 2007. Scandinavian Airlines announced February 8th that they will fly from Stockholm to Bangkok 3 flights/week starting late October 2007. [2].

[edit] Fleet

The Scandinavian Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft as of January 2007:^[2]

SAS Scandinavian Airlines Fleet

Type	Total	Passengers (Business/Extra/Economy)	Routes	Notes
Airbus A319-100	4	141	European, and flights to Greenland	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 737-400	4	150	Short to medium range	SAS Braathens
Boeing 737-500	13	120	Scandinavian	SAS Braathens
Boeing 737-600	27	112-123	European	SAS Braathens, SAS Sweden
Boeing 737-700	5 (2 orders)	165	European	SAS Braathens, SAS Sweden
Boeing 737-800	12	186	European	SAS Braathens, SAS Sweden
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400	24	72	European	SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden
Fokker 50	6	50	Norwegian Domestic	SAS Braathens
McDonnell Douglas MD-81	2	150	European	SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden
McDonnell Douglas MD-82	34	150	European	SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden
McDonnell Douglas MD-87	11	125	European	SAS Denmark, SAS Sweden

• Note: Fleet from Scandinavian Airlines and SAS Braathens.
• See also: SAS Braathens and SAS Group Fleet.

The average age of the SAS fleet is 9.8 years as of February 2007.^[3]

SAS Airbus A340-313X

SAS McDonnell Douglas MD-82

SAS Boeing 737-600

[edit] Retired fleet

• Junkers 52 (1946-1956)
• DC-3 (1946 - 1957)
• DC-4 (1946 - 1956)
• DC-6 (1948-1960)
• DC-6B (1952-1964)
• Convair Metropolitan (1956-1970)
• Sud Aviation Caravelle III (1959-1974)
• DC-7 (1956-1967)
• DC-8 (1960-1985)
• DC-9 (1968-2003)
• Fokker F28 (1973-1999)
• DC-10 (1974-1991)
• Boeing 747 (1971-1989)
• Airbus A300 (1980-1987)
• Fokker F27 (1984-1990)
• Boeing 767 (1989-2004)
• Saab 2000 (1997-2003)

[edit] Fingerprint biometric identification

In 2006 SAS Sweden launched a new biometric system in use throughout Sweden. Each passenger's fingerprints are matched to their respective checked baggage, for security purposes. The new technology will be phased into all airports that SAS serves.

[edit] Cabin

• 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:

Brussels Airport Charles de Gaulle International Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport Copenhagen Airport (2) Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport Helsinki-Vantaa Airport London Heathrow Airport Newark Liberty International Airport Oslo Airport (2) Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (3)

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 V_R (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 decision to abort the take-off in spite of the high speed was due to the fact, that the flight crew had received outdated (by several hours) runway data, giving much better braking coefficients than the actual ones.
• On February 28, 1984, SAS Flight 901, DC-10, LN-RKB departed Oslo (GEN) for a flight to New York JFK. The aircraft touched down 1440 m 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. This incident was mentioned on The History Channel's True Action Adventures episode "Against All Odds" which first aired in the United States on April 2, 1997.
• 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

• SAS Braathens
• SAS Group
• Star Alliance
• Norwegian aviation college

[edit] References

1. ^ Euroland.com. Operational key figures.
2. ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006
3. ^ Airfleets.net. SAS Fleet age.

[edit] External links

Company websites

• SAS website
• SAS Flight Operations

Other websites

• Airfleets.net: SAS Fleet Age
• Planespotters.net: SAS Jet Fleet Detail
• Airlinequality.com: SAS Passenger Opinions
• Scandinavian Airlines System - SAS at the Aviation Safety Network Database

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 | Blue1 destinations | Scandinavian Airlines destinations | SAS Braathens destinations | Spanair destinations | Widerøe destinations
Airline Support Business	SAS Cargo Group | SAS Media | SAS Technical Services | SAS Ground Services
Alliances	Star Alliance | WOW Alliance
History	DDL (1946) | DNL (1946) | SILA (1946) | ABA (1948) | Linjeflyg (1992) | Braathens (2001)