SAS Scandinavian Airlines History: 1946 to Today – Airline Employee Shop

SAS Scandinavian Airlines History

SAS brought the airlines of Denmark, Norway and Sweden together in 1946 and became famous for opening the polar shortcut between Europe and the American West Coast. Here's a short history of SAS Scandinavian Airlines, plus the SAS collection that celebrates them.

Three nations, one airline (1946-1951)

SAS was formed on August 1, 1946, as a consortium to pool the transatlantic flying of the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish national airlines. Its first flight left on September 17, 1946. The Douglas DC-4 "Dan Viking" flew from Stockholm to New York with stops in Copenhagen, Prestwick and Gander, carrying 28 invited passengers on a 25-hour trip. The partner airlines fully merged in 1951.

Over the pole (1954-1959)

On November 15, 1954, SAS made the first commercial flight over the polar region, from Copenhagen to Los Angeles, using Douglas DC-6Bs. The route took four years of work to prepare and saved a great deal of flying time and fuel. In 1957 SAS added a polar service from Copenhagen to Tokyo via Anchorage. The jet age arrived in 1959 with the Sud Aviation Caravelle, the airline's first jetliner.

Jumbos, alliances and change (1971-2024)

SAS introduced its first Boeing 747 in 1971. In May 1997 it was a founding member of Star Alliance. A new livery was unveiled in September 2019 on new Airbus A350 and A320neo aircraft. SAS filed for Chapter 11 protection in the United States on July 5, 2022, and its restructuring plan was approved in March 2024. Air France-KLM and the Danish government came in as investors. SAS left Star Alliance on August 31, 2024, and joined SkyTeam the next day.

SAS today

Copenhagen is the main hub, supported by Stockholm Arlanda and Oslo. In July 2025 Air France-KLM announced plans to raise its stake to a majority. SAS marked its 80th anniversary in 2026, and in May named a new A350 "Frederik Viking" after King Frederik X of Denmark.

A few things collectors love

  • SAS aircraft have carried Viking names for decades, going back to the DC-4 "Dan Viking."
  • Passengers on the first polar flights were given snowsuits, and the aircraft carried an Arctic survival manual.
  • SAS has flown Copenhagen to Los Angeles ever since that first polar flight in 1954.

Shop SAS

Browse SAS logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the SAS collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag to finish the look.

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