SAS has today announced their 70th anniversary of becoming the first carrier to fly over the polar regions. The milestone flight took place on November 15, 1954, flying over the North Pole enroute from Copenhagen to Los Angeles.
On Friday (November 15, 2024), SAS marked their 70th anniversary of becoming the first airline to fly over the Polar Regions. On November 15, 1954, SAS’ pioneering flight traveled over the North Pole during a flight from Copenhagen to Los Angeles. The flight distance was reduced by thousands of kilometers, which in turn resulted in reduced fuel consumption. By operating flights over the Polar Regions, SAS transformed how North America connects to Scandinavia, Europe and beyond, with Copenhagen emerging as a key hub.
In Friday’s announcement, SAS’ President and CEO, Anko van der Werff, said,
“SAS’s introduction of the Polar Route marked a landmark moment in global travel, enhancing economic ties, tourism, and cultural exchange by making the world more accessible. This legacy endures as SAS continues to drive innovation and connect people worldwide, with Copenhagen still at the heart of our global network.”
SAS Celebrates Inaugural Flight Over The Polar Regions on November 15, 1954 - Courtesy SAS
It took four years of hard work, inventive minds and careful planning to figure out how to successfully operate the first Polar Region flight. Considering the harsh Arctic climate, passengers were provided with snowsuits, and carried onboard was a manual on how to survive in the arctic. Since that very first flight in 1954, SAS has continuously operated flights between Copenhagen and Los Angeles. Honoring this history, today’s SAS Copenhagen-Los Angeles flight at 13:20 will offer guests special touches that commemorate the 1954 journey.
SAS is the leading airline in Scandinavia, with main hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm, and flying to 135 destinations across Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Each year, SAS serves over 25 million passengers and transports 55 tons of cargo, all facilitated by a passionate team of more than 10,000 colleagues. The company aims to be a driving force in sustainable aviation and in the transition towards net zero emissions by 2050. SAS also offers ground handling services, technical maintenance and air cargo services. SAS officially joined the global SkyTeam airline alliance in September 2024, and together with their partner airlines offers a wide network worldwide.
Source: SAS/Cision