SAS Traffic figures - December 2020
Increased passenger numbers compared to November driven by holiday travel
Almost 400,000 passengers flew with SAS during December, an increase of 18% compared to last month, but a decline by 80% year over year. At the same time SAS reduced its capacity by 6% compared to November, which corresponds to a reduction of 74% compared to last year. The load factor came in at 33%, an increase of some 8 percentage units (p.u.) compared to the previous month, but down 38 p.u. compared to last year. The increase in passengers and load factor compared to November is mainly driven by an increased demand for domestic travel during the holiday season.
“The overall demand continues to be heavily impacted by continued restrictions, with holiday travel significantly below normal levels in December. SAS continues to adapt its capacity according to the demand, that is expected to stay at low levels throughout the winter season. However, we’re encouraged by the recent vaccine developments and initiated COVID-19 vaccination programs, providing a foundation for a future normalization of our industry” says Rickard Gustafson, CEO SAS.
| SAS scheduled traffic | Dec20 | Change1 | Nov20-Dec20 | Change1 |
| ASK (Mill.) | 946 | -72.4% | 1 947 | -73.2% |
| RPK (Mill.) | 313 | -87.0% | 565 | -88.9% |
| Passenger load factor | 33.1% | -37.1 p u | 29.0% | -40.8 p u |
| No. of passengers (000) | 388 | -79.7% | 718 | -83.0% |
| Geographical development, schedule | Dec20 vs. Dec19 | Nov20-Dec20 vs. Nov19-Dec19 | ||
| RPK | ASK | RPK | ASK | |
| Intercontinental | -95.7% | -79.6% | -96.4% | -80.2% |
| Europe/Intrascandinavia | -88.9% | -80.7% | -90.9% | -82.9% |
| Domestic | -61.6% | -35.7% | -67.4% | -35.9% |
| SAS charter traffic | Dec20 | Change1 | Nov20-Dec20 | Change1 |
| ASK (Mill.) | 6 | -96.6% | 14 | -95.9% |
| RPK (Mill.) | 2 | -98.7% | 5 | -98.3% |
| Load factor | 35.2% | -55.7 p u | 37.7% | -54.6 p u |
| No. of passengers (000) | 1 | -98.9% | 1 | -98.3% |
| SAS total traffic (scheduled and charter) | Dec20 | Change1 | Nov20-Dec20 | Change1 |
| ASK (Mill.) | 951 | -73.5% | 1 961 | -74.2% |
| RPK (Mill.) | 315 | -87.7% | 570 | -89.4% |
| Load factor | 33.1% | -38.0 p u | 29.1% | -41.7 p u |
| No. of passengers (000) | 389 | -80.2% | 720 | -83.3% |
1 Change compared to same period last year. p u = percentage units
| Preliminary yield and PASK | Dec20 | Nominal change | FX adjusted change |
| Yield, SEK | 1.26 | 32.9% | 39.6% |
| PASK, SEK | 0.42 | -37.4% | -34.2% |
| Dec20 | |||
| Punctuality (arrival 15 min) | 82.0% | ||
| Regularity | 97.4% | ||
| Change in total CO2 emissions, rolling 12 months | -68.3% | ||
| Change in CO2 emissions per available seat kilometer | -6.5% | ||
| Carbon offsetting of passenger related emissions | 44% |
Definitions:
RPK – Revenue passenger kilometers
ASK – Available seat kilometers
Load factor – RPK/ASK
Yield – Passenger revenues/RPK (scheduled)
PASK – Passenger revenues/ASK (scheduled)
Change in CO2 emissions per available seat kilometers – SAS passenger related carbon emissions divided with total available seat kilometers (incl. non-revenue and EuroBonus), rolling 12 months
Carbon offsetting of passenger related emissions – Share of SAS passenger related carbon emissions compensated by SAS (EuroBonus members, youth tickets and SAS' staff travel)
From fiscal year 2020 we report change in CO2 emissions in total and per Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) to align with our overall goal to reduce our total CO2 emissions by 25% by 2025, compared to 2005.
For further information, please contact:
SAS press office, +46 8 797 29 44
Michel Fischier, VP Investor Relations, +46 70 997 06 73
SAS, Scandinavia’s leading airline, with main hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm, is flying to destinations in Europe, USA and Asia. Spurred by a Scandinavian heritage and sustainable values, SAS aims to be the global leader in sustainable aviation. We will reduce total carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2025, by using more sustainable aviation fuel and our modern fleet with fuel-efficient aircraft. In addition to flight operations, SAS offers ground handling services, technical maintenance and air cargo services. SAS is a founder member of the Star Alliance™, and together with its partner airlines offers a wide network worldwide. Learn more at www.sasgroup.net
This is information that SAS AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication by Michel Fischier at 11:00 a.m. CET on 12 January 2021.