Scandinavian Airlines System
Airline Statistics
415
Active Routes7888
Flight Observations114
Unique Destinations122
Origin Airports1158
Avg Route Distance (mi)5707
Longest Route (mi)0
Domestic Routes100
International RoutesAbout Scandinavian Airlines System
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Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) was founded on August 1, 1946, as a consortium bringing together the national airlines of Denmark (Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S), Norway (Det Norske Luftfartselskap AS), and Sweden (Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik AB) to manage combined air traffic for the three countries. This partnership was later extended to cover European and domestic cooperation, and by 1951, all the airlines merged to form SAS. SAS pioneered early transatlantic services, with its first international flight from Stockholm to New York in September 1946, and was the first airline to commence scheduled flights on a polar route in 1954, connecting Copenhagen to Los Angeles.
SAS operates with its main hubs at Copenhagen Airport (CPH), which serves as its primary international gateway, and secondary hubs at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL), and Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN). The airline's headquarters are located in Solna, Sweden. Its route network is extensive, connecting Scandinavia with over 125 destinations across Europe, the United States, Africa, and Asia, with a strategic focus on expanding international travel, particularly from Copenhagen.
As of November 2025, the SAS fleet comprises a mix of Airbus widebody (A330, A350) and narrowbody (A319, A320, A320neo, A321LR) aircraft, alongside regional jets (Bombardier CRJ900, Embraer E195) and turboprops (ATR 72) operated by its subsidiaries, SAS Connect and SAS Link. The airline has largely transitioned to an all-Airbus mainline fleet, with the Boeing 737 models having been phased out. In a significant development, SAS officially left Star Alliance on August 31, 2024, and became a member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance on September 1, 2024. SAS offers a tiered cabin system, which, effective October 1, 2025, is being renamed to Economy (formerly SAS Go), Premium (formerly SAS Plus, a premium economy product), and Business (long-haul with lie-flat seats), and a reintroduction of a true European Business Class. The airline's loyalty program is EuroBonus.
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Traveler Reviews
What Travelers Love:
- Cabin Crew: Many travelers frequently praise the cabin crew for being friendly, professional, and service-minded.
- Punctuality: SAS is often noted for its good operational performance, with many flights reported to operate on time. It has been recognized as one of the most punctual airlines in Europe.
- Modern Fleet & Comfort in Premium Cabins: Passengers appreciate the modern aircraft and the comfort provided, particularly in Premium Economy (SAS Plus) and Business Class, which offer more space, better seats, and updated entertainment systems.
- Scandinavian Connectivity: The airline's extensive network within Scandinavia and efficient transfers through its main hubs are highly valued by travelers.
Common Complaints:
- Customer Service Issues: A recurring complaint centers on SAS's customer service, with reports of unhelpful or unresponsive staff, difficulties in contacting the airline, and issues with handling cancellations or overbooking.
- Inconsistent Service/Meals in Economy: While some positive remarks exist, several reviews suggest that in-flight meals and entertainment/Wi-Fi offerings in Economy Class can be below expectations compared to competing carriers, and the overall service level can be inconsistent.
- Baggage and Booking Process Problems: Travelers have reported issues with baggage, including lost or damaged bags despite priority tagging. Problems with the online booking system, such as unexpected charges or limited flexibility, have also been a source of frustration.
- EuroBonus Devaluation/Alliance Transition Impact: Recent changes to the EuroBonus loyalty program, including increased point prices for award flights and adjustments to benefits following the transition from Star Alliance to SkyTeam, have led to dissatisfaction among some members.
Overall sentiment for Scandinavian Airlines appears to be mixed. While the airline is praised for its reliable operations, modern fleet, and professional cabin crew, particularly on long-haul and premium routes, significant areas of concern revolve around customer service responsiveness and the perceived value of its loyalty program following recent changes.
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Safety Information
Scandinavian Airlines maintains a strong safety record, reflected in its 7/7 safety rating by AirlineRatings.com. This rating is based on various factors, including serious incident history, government and international aviation audits, fleet age, pilot training standards, and operational excellence.
Regarding regulatory certifications, SAS has passed various audits, as indicated by its safety rating. While specific mentions of IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification were not explicitly detailed in the provided search results, the "Audits: Passed" status by AirlineRatings.com suggests adherence to robust safety standards. The airline is subject to the regulatory oversight of the national aviation authorities of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
The SAS fleet has a relatively modern average age, reported as 9.4 years as of November 2024, which is significantly below the global average aircraft age of 14.8 years. Another source indicates an active fleet average age of 8.4 years as of November 2025. SAS has a strong reputation for maintenance, actively leveraging predictive maintenance strategies to enhance operational efficiency, minimize aircraft on ground (AOG) events, and reduce unscheduled maintenance. This proactive approach has reportedly led to a 37% reduction in unscheduled downtime for aircraft equipped with these systems.
In terms of recent safety, AeroInside reported several non-fatal incidents involving SAS aircraft in 2025, including a passenger battery fire during boarding in October, a smell of smoke in the cabin in September, and electrical/hydraulic malfunctions and landing gear issues in August. Historically, SAS has had four major accidents resulting in fatalities, with the most deadly being a runway collision in Milan in 2001, which killed 114 people. However, the more recent incidents are minor and non-fatal, reflecting a robust overall safety framework.
Based on available data, SAS's overall safety assessment is very good, supported by its high safety rating, modern fleet, and proactive maintenance practices. No specific safety awards or recognitions were detailed in the provided search results.
Route Network Map
Most Popular Routes
Top Destinations
Top Origin Airports
Top Border Crossing Flights
Longest Routes
All Routes
415 Total Routes| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARN → CPH |
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
|
255 | 340 mi | A20N | Jan 30, 2026 |
| TRD → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
250 | 226 mi | A20N | Jan 30, 2026 |
| SVG → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
239 | 212 mi | A20N | Jan 30, 2026 |
| TOS → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
238 | 694 mi | A20N | Jan 29, 2026 |
| AAL → CPH |
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
|
223 | 148 mi | A20N | Jan 29, 2026 |
| MMX → ARN |
Stockholm-Arlanda
Stockholm
|
203 | 331 mi | A20N | Jan 30, 2026 |
| BGO → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
187 | 202 mi | E195 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| OSL → CPH |
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
|
187 | 322 mi | A20N | Jan 29, 2026 |
| UME → ARN |
Stockholm-Arlanda
Stockholm
|
183 | 297 mi | A20N | Jan 28, 2026 |
| EVE → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
153 | 597 mi | A20N | Jan 30, 2026 |
| KRS → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
133 | 174 mi | A20N | Jan 30, 2026 |
| AES → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
119 | 233 mi | A20N | Jan 30, 2026 |
| SVG → BGO |
Bergen, Flesland
Bergen
|
115 | 99 mi | E190 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| CPH → ARN |
Stockholm-Arlanda
Stockholm
|
114 | 340 mi | A20N | Jan 30, 2026 |
| SVG → CPH |
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
|
104 | 346 mi | E190 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| BOO → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
98 | 499 mi | A319 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| HAU → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
97 | 213 mi | E190 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| BGO → CPH |
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
|
92 | 423 mi | E190 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| HEL → CPH |
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
|
85 | 555 mi | A20N | Jan 28, 2026 |
| OSL → LHR |
London Heathrow
London
|
84 | 750 mi | A20N | Jan 27, 2026 |
| OSL → ARN |
Stockholm-Arlanda
Stockholm
|
83 | 239 mi | A319 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| BLL → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
78 | 316 mi | E190 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| ARN → LHR |
London Heathrow
London
|
76 | 909 mi | A20N | Jan 28, 2026 |
| ARN → AGP |
Malaga
Malaga
|
76 | 1876 mi | A320 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| TLL → ARN |
Stockholm-Arlanda
Stockholm
|
71 | 243 mi | A20N | Jan 30, 2026 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.
Last Update: Jan 30, 2026 16:04
Coverage: Observed routes only