SAS reveals striking all-blue Airbus A330 livery to mark 80th anniversary
April 3, 2026
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has decorated one of its Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a special all-blue livery marking its 80th anniversary. The striking commemorative scheme will fly throughout 2026.
The aircraft celebrates eight decades since the airline’s founding and pays tribute to SAS’s Scandinavian identity, with a flag band encircling the centre of the fuselage, representing the three Scandinavian nations: Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
The bold livery is painted in the carrier’s signature blue—the first time an entire aircraft has been painted in the brand’s blue tone.
The long-haul jet will operate on SAS’s intercontinental network, with its first service planned between Copenhagen and New York—honouring the airline’s historic early transatlantic routes.
A tribute to SAS history and Scandinavian design
SAS said the anniversary aircraft blends modern branding with historical references to earlier liveries.
The design reinterprets the Scandinavian cross flag motif that featured on SAS aircraft in the 1980s. A newly created 80th-anniversary symbol painted on the aircraft’s tail draws inspiration from the shape of the aircraft’s engines and fuselage. The airline described the new livery as a “bold reinterpretation” of its visual heritage.
“For 80 years, Scandinavian Airlines has driven innovation and brought Scandinavia closer to the world through safe and reliable operations,” said Anko van der Werff, president and CEO of SAS in the airline’s announcement.
“From our first transatlantic flight to today’s global network, that purpose remains unchanged. This aircraft is a symbol of our heritage, and of the role we play every day for our customers and the societies we serve.”
Marking 80 years since SAS’s first transatlantic flight
The anniversary livery reveal comes nearly eight decades after SAS launched its first intercontinental service on September 17, 1946, connecting Stockholm and New York.
That flight marked the start of SAS’s long-haul operations and helped establish the airline as one of Europe’s early pioneers in intercontinental travel.
Over the decades, the carrier has also been associated with several aviation milestones, including the launch of the first commercial polar route in 1954—with a flight from Copenhagen to Los Angeles—which introduced a shorter path between Europe and the United States, significantly reducing flight times.
Though SAS is celebrating the 80th anniversary of flights under its joint Scandinavian identity, it can trace its flying heritage further back.
The first Scandinavian parent company, Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S (DDL), was founded in Denmark in 1918. Sweden followed in 1924 with AB Aerotransport (ABA), which became SAS’ Swedish parent company. The Norwegian parent company Det Norske Luftfartselskap A/S (DNL) was founded in 1927. The three national carriers joined forces in 1946 to create SAS.
Airbus A330 remains key to SAS long-haul fleet
The commemorative aircraft is one of SAS’s eight Airbus A330-300s, with seating capacity for 266 passengers. The aircraft is a key part of the airline’s intercontinental fleet, which also includes five Airbus A350-900s and three Airbus A321LRs.
SAS operates its A330-300 aircraft to destinations across North America and Asia from its main hub at Copenhagen Airport.
The anniversary aircraft will join the airline’s regular schedule, allowing passengers to fly on the special livery throughout the year as SAS celebrates eight decades of operations.
Featured Image: SAS
