First in Europe to commence trans-Atlantic green flights
SAS Scandinavian Airlines today concluded Europe’s first commercial
trans-Atlantic green approach trial, which is designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. SK904, an Airbus A330, from New York’s Newark airport arrived early this morning at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, following a successful Continuous Descent Approach (CDA).

With this initiative, SAS is the first airline in Europe to materialize its commitment to the emissions and noise reduction program AIRE (Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions). AIRE is a joint initiative from the European Commission and the US Federal Aviation Administration. SAS is carrying out the CDA program with partners Stockholm-Arlanda airport, Airbus and the Swedish state-owned aviation service company LFV.

SAS has already carried out over 2000 A-CDAs (Advanced Continuous Descent Approach) on flights in Sweden with a Boeing 737 and is the only commercial airline worldwide to have invested in the environmentally conscious program and tested it during a number of years. A trans-Atlantic green approach with an Airbus A330 is estimated to save initially approximately 150 kilos of aircraft fuel and 470 kilos of carbon dioxide (CO2).

- The approach carried out at Arlanda today was in fact very easy for us pilots. The engines were running at idle power from our cruise altitude, until the final stage of the approach.The aircraft’s Flight Management System was automatically flying the whole approach routing and the passengers conceived the approach as nothing but smooth and quiet,” says Sigmund Lockert, Airbus 340/330 Fleet Chief Pilot, Scandinavian Airlines, who was also First Officer on today’s flight.

- This is a big step for the aviation industry, and Scandinavian Airlines is proud to once again lead the way when it comes to environmental issues. Next year we will continue with this type of demonstrations, as we are truly committed to support research in this area and make all SAS International flights as environmentally-friendly as possible in the future,” says Lars Sandahl Sørensen, Chief Executive Officer, SAS International.