SAS has reintroduced its historic 1946 route between New York and Scandinavia to celebrate its 80th anniversary, demonstrating how transatlantic air travel has evolved over eight decades. On September 17, 2026, the airline will operate special flights from Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo to New York, recreating the original journey that established its international service. By the 1950s, SAS was already pioneering polar routings to shorten journeys between Europe and distant markets, a strategy that further expanded its global reach beyond the initial transatlantic corridor. Unlike the first trip, which required a 25-hour, multi-stop voyage aboard the DC-4 Dan Viking, today’s flights are direct and complete the route in under eight hours.
The anniversary flights highlight the transformation of aviation since 1946. The Dan Viking carried just 28 passengers on a route from Stockholm’s Bromma Airport, stopping in Copenhagen, Prestwick, and Gander before arriving at LaGuardia. This Douglas DC-4 marked the beginning of SAS’s expansion, which later included polar routes, jet travel, and participation in alliances like Star Alliance—until its departure from that group in 2024 to join SkyTeam. The Jet Age then transformed speed, range, and onboard service, while the arrival of aircraft such as the Boeing 747 changed the scale of long-haul operations, allowing SAS to operate more efficiently across continents.
The celebration also reflects SAS’s ongoing fleet upgrades. The airline has ordered up to 40 Airbus widebody aircraft and committed to 45 Embraer E195-E2 regional jets, with options for 10 additional planes, beginning deliveries in late 2027. Earlier this year, SAS unveiled a specially painted Airbus A330-300 in a blue anniversary livery, designed to evoke its early years. The aircraft’s inaugural route was Copenhagen to New York, directly mirroring the original transatlantic path.
In New York, celebrations will continue on September 18 with a rooftop reception hosted by SAS in collaboration with Scandinavian diplomatic missions. The event will gather officials, business leaders, and aviation professionals, reinforcing the city’s significance in the airline’s history.
SAS left Star Alliance in 2024 and joined SkyTeam on September 1, 2024, part of a broader restructuring of its international partnerships and network strategy.
The airline has collaborated with the Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian embassies to organize exhibits showcasing vintage airline memorabilia, including original flight manifests and crew uniforms from the 1940s. These displays will run through October 2026 at the Scandinavian House in New York, offering travelers and locals a chance to explore the airline’s heritage firsthand.
