Sustainable Travel
Our many journeys have one shared direction
In a place with spectacular but challenging geography, aviation is essential for Scandinavia. It creates opportunities for people to live fuller lives and for cargo to be transported all over the world. It also unlocks new ways for businesses to innovate, collaborate and grow. Without aviation, Scandinavia wouldn’t be what it is today.
Our Strategic Direction for the Future of Travel
We’re committed to a more sustainable future for aviation. Our top priority is lowering CO₂ emissions, with a goal to cut total emissions by 25% by 2025 and make all domestic flights fossil-free by 2030. To get there, we’re investing in fuel-efficient aircraft, sustainable aviation fuels, and innovative partnerships that help reduce our climate impact. Read all about our initiatives to transform aviation now and for generations to come below.
Our goals
2025
25% lower total CO₂ emissions compared with 2005 (absolute emissions)
2030
50% noise reduction compared with 2010
2030
Sustainable aviation fuel equivalent to SAS' domestic production
2030
100% sustainable materials in SAS’ offering
2030
100% recycling where possible
2050
Net-zero carbon emissions in line with IATA’s updated ambition
Our initiatives
New fleet with reduced emissions
We’re phasing in new, fuel-efficient aircraft, making our fleet one of the most modern in Europe with 80% new planes. These aircraft use 15–30% less fuel, cutting CO₂ emissions, while also being quieter and more comfortable for a better inflight experience.
Next generation aircraft with zero emissions
We’ve long worked to reduce the environmental impact of our flights by supporting cleaner engines, zero-emission aircraft, and greener airport infrastructure. By investing in next-generation technology, we aim for hydrogen hybrid planes on medium and long-haul routes and electric aircraft on short-haul flights.
Electric and zero-emission aircraft
In 2019, we teamed up with Airbus to develop the next generation of zero-emission aircraft. Using renewable hydrogen, these planes could fly long distances without producing CO₂. The first Airbus ZEROe aircraft are expected around 2035.
Nordic Network for Electric Aviation
To get there faster, we need to work together. Therefore, SAS is part of the Nordic Network for Electric Aviation (NEA),which promotes electric flight in the Nordic countries. NEA unites stakeholders to advance electric aircraft, infrastructure, and operations, ensuring reliable regional connections even in Nordic weather.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
We are committed to increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a key step toward zero-emission flights. SAS has been a pioneer in SAF for over 20 years, including the first biofuel flight in 2014 between Stockholm–Östersund and Trondheim–Oslo. SAF significantly reduces CO₂ emissions, and we continue to invest in initiatives to produce and expand its use.
Production of synthetic sustainable aviation fuel
HySkies is a key step toward fossil-free aviation. SAS, Vattenfall, Shell, and LanzaTech are developing synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Sweden using the LanzaJet “Alcohol to Jet” technology, turning renewable electricity and recycled CO₂ into electrofuel. Once at full scale, it could supply up to 25% of SAS’s global SAF needs in the 2030s.
In Denmark, SAS partners with Ørsted on the Green Fuels project, producing electrofuel from wind power. The facility is expected to deliver its first batch in 2025 and up to 250,000 tonnes by 2030—enough for SAS flights from Copenhagen.
Travelers can buy biofuel
We make it easy for travelers to reduce CO₂ emissions by purchasing biofuel. For 10 USD/10 EUR/100 SEK/100 NOK/70 DKK per 20-minute block, you can contribute to replacing fossil fuel on your flight. Buying multiple blocks for longer flights helps reduce SAS’ overall fossil fuel use. Even though aircraft can only use up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel per flight, your purchase supports a greener operation. SAS makes no profit on biofuel sales, which are additional to our existing commitments.
Sustainable Travel at Every Step
Sustainable dining experiences
SAS is making its products and services more sustainable, reducing unnecessary materials like plastic. The new packaging design cuts 51 tons of plastic annually, and by 2030, all onboard items—including wooden cutlery—will be fully sustainable.
Sustainable travel
Reducing weight onboard helps us use less fuel. At SAS, we invest in lighter aircraft, materials, and seat designs, and even small changes like lighter USB sockets add up. SAS Cargo uses containers that are 20% lighter, cutting over 13,000 tonnes of CO₂ in five years. Travelers can help too—pack only what you need.
Dry wash
Keeping our aircraft clean reduces fuel use. SAS now dry washes planes using just 60 liters of water for a long-haul A330, instead of 13,000 liters. The biodegradable cleaner also keeps surfaces cleaner for longer, making this a more sustainable method.
Are you a conscious traveler?
Get rewarded for doing the right thing. We’re on a journey to become carbon neutral, and we need your help to get there. By making conscious choices, such as traveling on biofuel tickets, you will receive both recognition and rewards.
Swedish X-country & alpine ski teams purchase biofuel from SAS
The Swedish national cross-country and alpine ski teams are buying biofuel from SAS for all their Scandinavian flights as part of their sustainability efforts. By renewing their partnership and purchasing additional biofuel, they help reduce CO₂ emissions. We are proud to support the teams’ travel to competitions and training.
Corporate Sustainability Program
Aviation connects people, cultures, and businesses, and we want future generations to enjoy it too. That’s why we’re partnering with corporate customers to expand the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and reduce Scope 3 emissions from travel and transport.
Through our Corporate Sustainability Program, companies can actively support more sustainable aviation. SAS makes no profit on SAF sales—the fuel we sell is always in addition to what we’ve already committed to buy.
Travel pass biofuel
SAS for Business offers a program for frequent corporate travelers who want to fly more sustainably. Travel Pass Biofuel is a specially designed product for people who travel regularly to the same destination and are looking for the best deal, with maximum comfort in SAS Plus, and who want to make a more sustainable choice. SAS makes no profit on biofuel sales. The biofuel SAS sells is in addition to the amount of biofuel we have already committed to buy.
DSV partners with SAS
DSV is the first company in Denmark to join the SAS Corporate Sustainability Program. In 2023, DSV will use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for all corporate travel with SAS. By replacing fossil fuels with SAF, this partnership helps reduce aviation emissions. The program makes it easy for corporate customers to support sustainable air travel and cargo.
Reporting
In 1996, SAS began reporting on its sustainability initiatives in externally audited reports.
All reports are available at SAS Group.
If you have any questions regarding our sustainability work, please contact environment@sas.se