SAS weighs widebody aircraft order with Airbus and Boeing

SAS is in discussions with Airbus and Boeing about a potential order for widebody aircraft as the Scandinavian carrier reviews its future long-haul fleet needs, Bloomberg reported.

The talks cover both the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X, according to the report. SAS chief executive Anko van der Werff indicated that the scale of a possible deal would be substantial, without disclosing the number of aircraft or a timeline for a decision.

Any widebody order would mark a new phase for SAS after a prolonged financial crisis that led to a court-supervised restructuring and a capital injection by a consortium of investors. That group includes Air France-KLM, which has since taken an active role in shaping the airline’s recovery and strategic direction.

Following the restructuring, SAS has moved ahead with an expansion plan centered on long-haul markets. In January, the airline announced new intercontinental routes from Copenhagen to Dubai, Phuket, and Krabi, scheduled to launch during the winter 2026–2027 season.

The carrier currently operates five Airbus A350-900s and eight A330-300s on long-haul services, but has indicated that future fleet decisions are no longer limited to one manufacturer. A new widebody order would support both network growth and the replacement of older aircraft as demand for long-distance travel increases.

SAS’s last major aircraft commitment was focused on short- and medium-haul operations. In July 2025, the airline ordered up to 55 Embraer E195-E2 jets, with deliveries set to begin in late 2027, to strengthen its hubs in Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo.

Air France-KLM, which currently owns 19.9% of SAS, is expected to obtain approval later this year to become the airline’s majority shareholder, further anchoring SAS’s expansion plans.

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