SAS marks 80 years with anniversary aircraft

SAS marks the start of its 80th year of operations with a specially painted Airbus A330-300, celebrating eight decades of connecting Scandinavia with the world. Throughout 2026, the airline will highlight its heritage and continued role in linking people, businesses and societies. The anniversary comes 80 years after SAS’s first intercontinental flight on September 17, 1946, when a route from Stockholm to New York brought Scandinavia closer to the world. Today, SAS links Scandinavia with destinations across Europe, North America and Asia, using Copenhagen as its primary international gateway.

Anko van der Werff, President & CEO of SAS commented: “For 80 years, Scandinavian Airlines has driven innovation and brought Scandinavia closer to the world through safe and reliable operations. From our first transatlantic flight to today’s global network, that purpose remains unchanged. This aircraft is a symbol of our heritage, and of the role we play every day for our customers and the societies we serve.”

To mark the milestone, SAS has introduced a dedicated livery on one of its Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The aircraft is part of the airline’s long-haul fleet, which includes eight Airbus A330-300s, each with 266 seats, complemented by the state-of-the-art Airbus A350, and A321LR, serving SAS’s intercontinental network. 

The livery features SAS blue across the entire aircraft for the first time, building on one of the airline’s most recognizable design elements. The Scandinavian flag has been reinterpreted as a reference to the classic 1980s livery, alongside a new anniversary symbol inspired by the aircraft’s engines and fuselage. Its first flight is scheduled between Copenhagen and New York, echoing the historic route that defined SAS’s early international expansion.