PRESS RELEASES
25 SEPTEMBER 2006
Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) celebrates its 60th anniversary together with Athens International Airport passengers

Together with its 272 passengers of flights SK 4638 and SK 778 from Athens International Airport to Oslo and Copenhagen, Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) celebrated its 60 years of successful operations, since the first flight of the airline, connecting Stockholm and New York, in September 1946.

On Wednesday, September 21st, a surprise was there for the airline’s passengers at Athens International Airport. Passengers received a warm welcome by smiling employees at the check-in counters, which were decorated with white and blue balloons and the anniversary message “1946-2006: 60 years young”. SAS passengers then joined the airline and Athens International Airport at a small “anniversary party” in an especially decorated waiting lounge, where they were treated to lunch and received their souvenirs.  SAS officers, the cabin crews, and Athens International Airport officers shared the occasion with the passengers - among who many children - celebrating together with SAS, the first airline in the world to have scheduled flights over the polar region.

S Group Corporate Communications
Tel.: +46 8 797 1950
Fax : +46 8 797 1236
Website: www.sasgroup.net

More information about Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) follows.

 Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) - Historical Background

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) was formed in 1946 through the merger of three Nordic airlines. The contract for a first Scandinavian airline was signed on August 1st, and a short time later the first flight to New York was operated on September 17th, 1946.

The transatlantic flight was followed by several occasions on which SAS was the pioneer:

  • SAS was the first in the world to have scheduled flights over the polar region, with the launch of the Copenhagen-Los Angeles route in 1954.
  • Three years later, in 1957, SAS became the first airline with a flight route across the North Pole to Japan, which resulted in a time reduction from 52 to 32 hours.
  • In 1959, SAS was ahead of all the others in deploying the French-built, twin-engine jet aircraft, the “Caravelle”, in scheduled operations. The maiden flight was between Copenhagen and Beirut.
  • SAS was the first airline to introduce an electronic booking system for all of its services in Europe in 1965.
  • SAS was an early adopter in permitting smoking on its routes, but also first to have a smoking ban (1986).
  • SAS was first to encourage work on board, in the form of a writing desk, and subsequently became the first airline in the world to offer passengers wireless Internet connections on all of its intercontinental flights.
  • During the 60 years that have passed Scandinavian Airlines has launched routes to all of the world’s inhabited continents except Oceania.

For more information about Scandinavian Airlines System:
Hans Ollongren, SVP Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, tel. +46 8 797 1950
Kerstin Edenby-Stross, Director Information & Communication, tel. +46 8 797 12 36

Relevant photographic material about the SAS Group is available in www.sasgroup.net