Airline profile · Europe

SAS Scandinavian Airlines

SwedenFull-service carrierSkyTeam memberSince 1946

SKIATA code

SASICAO code

SAS (Scandinavian Airlines, IATA SK, ICAO SAS) is the full-service airline of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, flying from hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. It carried 28.3 million passengers in the year to October 2025 with 140 aircraft in operation. SAS left Star Alliance in August 2024 and joined SkyTeam on 1 September 2024.

Founded: 1946
First flight: 1946
Headquarters: Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
Country: Sweden
Main hubs: Copenhagen Airport (CPH) · Oslo Airport (OSL) · Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)
Airline type: Full-service carrier
Alliance: SkyTeam
Loyalty: EuroBonus
Parent: SAS AB
Ownership: Unlisted since its restructuring in August 2024, when the share was delisted. The owners at that point were Castlelake (32.0%), the Danish state (26.4%), Air France-KLM (19.9%), Lind Invest (8.6%) and others (13.1%). In July 2025 Air France-KLM began proceedings to raise its stake to 60.5%, subject to regulatory approval; completion had not been reported in the sources we checked in November 2026.
Callsign: SCANDINAVIAN
Website: flysas.com

How travel agents book SAS Scandinavian Airlines

GDS distribution

SAS content is still sold through the GDSs over EDIFACT, but most EDIFACT bookings carry a per fare component surcharge under the distribution model SAS introduced in October 2023. From 22 April 2024 Go Light fares were withdrawn from EDIFACT on short-haul flights and on departures from Japan.

NDC

SAS NDC offers are bookable through the Amadeus Travel Platform and Sabre Red 360; Sabre announced SAS as the seventeenth airline live with NDC offers on its marketplace. SAS planned Travelport integration for spring/summer 2024 and APG for summer 2024, which we did not confirm as live. NDC bookings are exempt from the EDIFACT surcharge, apart from a charge on Go Light fares (EUR 1.50 per fare component, as reported by PhocusWire).

Direct channels

Direct channels include flysas.com and SAS's own NDC connections. SAS said its Corporate Portal for corporate customers was not affected by the 2023 distribution model.

Notes for travel agents

SAS's agent page gave the EDIFACT surcharge as EUR 5.50 per fare component across all GDSs and said a revised schedule applied from 8 May 2024 without listing the new amounts; PhocusWire reported EUR 8.50 for Sabre bookings. The surcharge is refundable only when the fare is refundable and does not apply to point of sale or journey start in China, Hong Kong, Iran, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Brazil or Colombia. Group, Bulk and Travel Pass products were not yet bookable in NDC.

On ReservationHub

ReservationHub gives agencies GDS content from Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport plus NDC and low-cost channels in one platform. See the full list on our integrations page.

History of SAS Scandinavian Airlines

SAS was formed in 1946 by three national airlines: DDL of Denmark, DNL of Norway and SILA of Sweden. Its first flight left Stockholm Bromma on 17 September 1946, a DC-4 bound for New York with stops in Copenhagen, Prestwick and Gander. The parent companies created the SAS Consortium in 1951, and in 1954 SAS became the first airline to fly a scheduled polar route, linking Copenhagen and Los Angeles.

SAS entered the jet age with the Caravelle in 1959 and in 1997 was one of the five founders of Star Alliance. A single SAS share was listed in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo in 2001, the same year it bought the Norwegian airline Braathens.

After the pandemic SAS went through US Chapter 11 and a Swedish company reorganisation, both completed on 28 August 2024. Its shares were delisted and a new group of owners took over: Castlelake, the Danish state, Air France-KLM and Lind Invest. On 1 September 2024 SAS moved from Star Alliance to SkyTeam. In July 2025 Air France-KLM started proceedings to take a majority stake, with completion targeted for the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

Milestones

1946SAS formed; first flight from Stockholm to New York on 17 September.
1951The Danish, Norwegian and Swedish parents formed the SAS Consortium.
1954First airline to fly a scheduled polar route, Copenhagen to Los Angeles.
1997Co-founded Star Alliance.
2001Single SAS share listed in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo; Braathens acquired.
2024Chapter 11 and Swedish reorganisation completed on 28 August; joined SkyTeam on 1 September.
2025Ordered 45 Embraer E195-E2s; Air France-KLM began proceedings to take majority control.
2026Announced plans for up to 40 Airbus widebody aircraft in June.

Fleet

Airbus A320neo Airbus A321LR Airbus A319/A320 Airbus A330-300 Airbus A350-900 Embraer E195 Bombardier CRJ900 ATR 72-600

Aircraft types in service as of 2025

At 31 October 2025 SAS had 140 aircraft in operation: 88 from the Airbus A320 family, eight A330s, four A350s, 15 Embraer E195s, one Boeing 737 and 24 wet-leased CRJ900 and ATR 72-600 regional aircraft. In July 2025 SAS ordered 45 Embraer E195-E2s, with purchase rights for ten more and first deliveries planned for late 2027. In June 2026 it announced plans for up to 40 Airbus widebodies, combining new A330-900neos with additional A330-300s.

Network and hubs

SAS runs a three-hub network from Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm Arlanda, and is developing Copenhagen as its main gateway for long-haul connections. Its corporate site listed more than 125 destinations in Europe, the US, Africa and Asia when we checked in November 2026.

In the financial year to 31 October 2025 SAS carried 28.3 million passengers, 12% more than a year earlier. Part of the flying is done by SAS Connect, SAS Link and wet-lease partners. Since 1 September 2024 SAS has had codeshare, interline and loyalty cooperation with Air France and KLM through SkyTeam.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines: frequently asked questions

What are SAS airline codes?

SAS uses the IATA code SK and the ICAO code SAS, with the radio callsign SCANDINAVIAN. Its Irish-registered regional subsidiary, Scandinavian Airlines Ireland Limited (SAS Connect), has its own codes, SL and SZS, but sells its flights under SK.

When did SAS join SkyTeam?

SAS left Star Alliance at the end of 31 August 2024 and officially joined SkyTeam on 1 September 2024. Codeshare, interline and loyalty cooperation with Air France and KLM started on the same day. SAS had been one of the five founding members of Star Alliance in 1997.

Who owns SAS?

When its restructuring ended in August 2024, SAS was owned by Castlelake (32.0%), the Danish state (26.4%), Air France-KLM (19.9%), Lind Invest (8.6%) and others. In July 2025 Air France-KLM began proceedings to raise its stake to 60.5%, subject to regulatory approval and targeted to close in the second half of 2026.

Does SAS charge a surcharge on GDS bookings?

Yes. Since October 2023 most SAS bookings made over EDIFACT in a GDS carry a surcharge per fare component, while NDC bookings are exempt apart from a small charge on Go Light fares. Go Light fares on short-haul routes are no longer sold over EDIFACT, so agents need NDC access to offer them.

What is the SAS loyalty programme?

SAS's loyalty programme is EuroBonus, which SAS said had passed 9 million members in July 2026. Since 1 September 2024 the loyalty cooperation with Air France and KLM lets members earn and use benefits across those airlines, in addition to SkyTeam partner recognition.

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Sources

Profile updated 4 November 2026 by the ReservationHub team. Airline details change: confirm schedules, fares and policies with the airline before booking. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.