SAS Negotiates Major Widebody Aircraft Order with Airbus and Boeing
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is in advanced talks with Boeing and Airbus to finalize a significant long-haul aircraft order. This move serves as a clear signal that the group is betting on a new phase of intercontinental growth centered at its main hub in Copenhagen. The information was confirmed by the company’s CEO, Anko van der Werff, during an interview with Bloomberg in Dubai.
This potential operation comes at a pivotal moment for the airline, now controlled by Air France-KLM. It reflects both the restructuring of its network following the war in Ukraine and a positive outlook on premium and connecting demand across the North Atlantic and Asia.
An Order “Large Enough” to Move the Industry
While Van der Werff declined to specify the exact number of aircraft under evaluation, he made it clear that this is not a marginal purchase. According to the executive, the potential size of the order is substantial enough to have already sparked strong interest not only from aircraft manufacturers but also from engine suppliers.
Four key models are currently on the table for analysis:
Options Under Evaluation
- Boeing 787 Dreamliner
- Boeing 777X
- Airbus A350
- Airbus A330neo
Currently, SAS operates an exclusively Airbus widebody fleet, consisting of A350s and A330s. This makes Boeing a serious contender for a potential return to the Scandinavian carrier’s long-haul segment.
→ SAS Announces Return to Dubai and New Routes to Phuket and Krabi from Copenhagen
Strategic Redesign Following Russian Airspace Closure
Prior to 2022, SAS had structured a large portion of its network around connecting transatlantic traffic to Asia. However, the closure of Russian airspace following the invasion of Ukraine directly impacted the viability of those routes, forcing the company to rethink its model.
The response was a clear strategic shift:
- Strengthening its own transatlantic offering.
- Expanding toward long-haul leisure and mixed-demand destinations such as Dubai, Phuket, and Krabi in Thailand.
This adjustment aims not only to bypass geopolitical limitations but also to capture demand that, according to the airline, shows solid signs of growth, particularly in high-value segments.
When asked about potential negative impacts from political tensions—such as those arising between Denmark and the United States regarding Greenland—the CEO downplayed any effect on demand or a possible Boeing aircraft purchase.
Air France-KLM Factor: Control and Financial Stability
The fleet analysis is taking place under a new ownership reality. In 2024, Air France-KLM announced it was increasing its stake in SAS to 60.5%, up from approximately 20%, after acquiring shares from Castlelake LP and Lind Invest.
The Franco-Dutch group originally entered SAS’s capital in 2023, after the Scandinavian airline underwent a Chapter 11 reorganization process in the United States. This new industrial and financial backing provides the predictability needed for long-term decisions, such as the renewal or expansion of a widebody fleet.
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