70th anniversary of SAS becoming the world’s first airline to fly over the Polar Regions
Seventy years have passed since SAS made aviation history on November 15, 1954, by becoming the world’s first airline to operate a commercial flight over the North Pole. The pioneering flight from Copenhagen to Los Angeles not only significantly reduced flying time and lowered fuel consumption, but also established the most efficient link between Europe and the USA.
November 15, 2024, marks the 70th anniversary of the historic achievement that made SAS a symbol of Scandinavian innovation and advanced technology. By operating flights over the Polar Regions, SAS transformed how North America connects to Scandinavia, to Europe, and beyond, with Copenhagen emerging as a key hub.
The flight distance was reduced by thousands of kilometers, which in turn considerably lowered fuel consumption. Today, we call it sustainability, and it is at the very core of SAS. SAS is committed to driving the important transformation of the aviation industry in close collaboration with partners, customers, and governments, continuously seeking innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact and pave the way for a more sustainable future in aviation.
“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”, says SAS’ President and CEO Anko van der Werff.
It took four years of hard work and inventive minds to figure out how to successfully operate the flights. Even then, safety was a top priority. Given the harsh Arctic climate, passengers were provided with snowsuits, and onboard was a manual on how to survive in the Arctic.
Since its very first flight, SAS has continued operating from Copenhagen to Los Angeles.
To honor this history, today’s Copenhagen–Los Angeles flight at 13.20 will offer passengers special touches that commemorate the 1954 journey, taking them back to the origins of SAS’s Polar Route.
SAS, Scandinavia's leading airline since 1946, operates from its principal hub at Copenhagen Airport (CPH), complemented by hubs in Oslo (OSL) and Stockholm (ARN).
Our mission is to connect Scandinavia with the world and the world with Scandinavia. Each year, SAS serves more than 25 million passengers and transports 60 000 tons of cargo to 135 destinations across Europe, the USA, and Asia. With a passionate workforce of over 10,000 colleagues, we collaborate with partners and customers to drive transformative changes in aviation. We are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, embodying the visionary spirit of our founders: “To move from the old to what is about to come, is the only tradition worth keeping”. Innovation and societal progress are at the heart of everything we do. SAS joined SkyTeam in September 2024 and together with our partner airlines we offer a wide network worldwide.
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