Tag Archives: Copenhagen

SAS operates its last McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) flight, ending a long relationship with Douglas airplanes

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) operated and quietly retired their last McDonnell Douglas DC-9. The last MD-80 was operated on October 26, 2013 on flight SK403 from Stockholm-Arlanda to Copenhagen. This is the first time SAS will be without a Douglas aircraft in its fleet. SAS has operated every Douglas and McDonnell Douglas type since the DC-3 (except the DC-5 and the MD-11).

The last revenue flight (flight SK 403) was operated by McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) SE-DIR “Nora Viking” (msn 53004) between Stockholm (Arlanda) and Copenhagen on October 25. A special employee-only farewell flight was flown by DC-9-82 (MD-82) LN-RMM (msn 53005) on October 26 over Denmark.

DC-9-82s SE-DIR, OY-KHE (msn 49604) and LN-RMM all operated on the last day of revenue operations (October 25).

One of the aircraft will be donated to the SAS Museum outside of Oslo.

According to a Danish newspaper, the SAS MD-80s operated 3,134,900 flights with the 66 aircraft in the fleet. 2,977,195,000 km were flown since the type was introduced in October 1985.

All of the above information is from Airliners.net.

In other news, SAS recently finalized its Airbus long-haul order. On June 25, 2013, SAS and Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the order of 12 new long haul aircraft.

This month, SAS and Airbus signed the final long haul aircraft order agreement comprising 4 A330-300 Enhanced and 8 A350-900 plus 6 options for A350-900. The Airbus A330 will be delivered 2015/16 and the Airbus A350 will be delivered from 2018.

Copyright Photo: Moritz Riemer/AirlinersGallery.com. DC-9-82 (MD-82) OY-KHE (msn 49604) in the Star Alliance livery arrives at Copenhagen.

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS:

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Widerøe is awarded European Airline of The Year

Wideroe (Widerøe’s Flyveselskap AS) (Bodo and Oslo) has been selected as the European Airline of the Year by the European Regions Airline Association.

The company has issued the following statement:

Widerøe is awarded European Airline of the Year 2012 by the ERA (European Regions Airline Association). The ERA Airline of the Year Award was established in 1991 and aims to recognize excellence and achievements of intra-European airlines. The price is awarded every year on the base of quality, economy and position of the airline.

This year Norwegian Widerøe went all the way to the top. Feedback from the judging panel on the gold medal is that Widerøe is a well-managed airline that remains predictable at a top level in unpredictable surroundings.

This is a great honor and recognition of the work and effort put in by all Widerøe’s employees, states Managing Director in Widerøes Flyveselskap, Lars Kobberstad. It is particularly exciting to win an award rewarded by the industry itself, continues Kobberstad.

ERA’s Airline of the Year Award is presented every year. Competition is fierce between the various airline members of the European Airline organization. Widerøe has previously won both bronze and silver, however this is the first time the company wins the gold medal and is awarded Airline of the Year in Europe.

Of course it is fantastic for a small Norwegian company to go all the way to the top, states Kobberstad, and promises that there will be a big celebration when he returns to Norway with the trophy.

In his Dublin speech Thursday night, Director General of ERA Mr. Mike Ambrose stated that the judging panel was impressed by Widerøe’s performance in many aspects. In particular Widerøe’s ability to excel in all operational and financial parameters impressed the judging panel.

The judging panel also points out Widerøe as a truly regional airline and even if the airline operate in challenging weather conditions, most of the measures of performance are at the top.

Lars Kobberstad approach is slightly more humble; -This is truly a great acknowledgement. However, new challenges present itself every day and we cannot afford to slow down in our efforts to increase the quality and efficiency of our service offering. This is never the less an important step towards fulfilling our vision of becoming the leading regional airline company in Europe.

In other news, the growing airline is acquiring three additional ex-SAS Bombardier DHC-8-402s (Q400s).

Wideroe: