In the first edition of Scandinavian Airlines System’s new series of publications called SAS Aviation Insight, the company has produced a report that indicates a significant loss of over 1.2 million seats in 2024 that is a direct result of geopolitical instability. This is notably due to the closed airspace over Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, alongside other contributing tensions in Asia and the Middle East.
SAS’ Report
SAS’ new publication project – SAS Aviation Insight – seeks to provide an accessible and informative analysis on the Scandinavian aviation sector. The first report presents the impact of the closed airspace over Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, with a drop in over 1.2 million departing seats from Scandinavia in 2024 compared to pre-crisis statistics. Furthermore, these numbers indicate how route restrictions are largely hitting European airlines, with Western carriers facing steeper declines in passenger numbers than those still allowed to fly routes over Russia.
Following the closure of airspace, Scandinavia no longer has an efficient and simple route to Asia, stretching out flight times and making journeys expensive to operate. For example, a trip from Copenhagen to Shanghai now has an additional two hours of flight time each way. These lengthier flights raise further issues for European airlines such as higher fuel consumption, reduced aircraft efficiency, reduced cabin crew efficiency, increased operating costs, and decreased cargo payload.
SAS’ report highlights that the longer flight routes also have reduced cargo capacity and efficiency. This has resulted in disruption in air cargo operations in addition to passenger flights, leading to delays and higher shipping costs that has affected trade between Europe and Asia.
It has also been noted that the reduction in direct flights between Scandinavia and Asia has impacted the wider tourism and travel sectors. SAS’ report indicates that local Scandinavian economies have seen a decline in revenue, with many businesses now opting for virtual meetings over travelling.
The full report can be found here.
SAS’ response
Founded in 1946, SAS has grown to become Scandinavia’s leading airline, operating hubs from Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. The airline aims to increase global connectivity to and from Scandinavia, serving over twenty-five-million passengers a year and flying to one-hundred-and-thirty-five destinations around the world.
SAS is currently exploring alternative routes and partnerships to reduce the negative impacts of the closed airspace over Belarus, Russia and Ukraine – including plans to open a new route to Seoul, South Korea in September 2025. This announcement has come shortly after the airline confirmed that it will not be operating direct flights to China this year, suggesting this proposed route to Seoul is expected to be competitive regardless of current challenges.
With a focus on innovation and societal progress, SAS is also investing in fuel-efficient aircraft and imaginative aviation technologies to increase sustainability, reduce operational costs, and ensuring long-term resilience and competitiveness. The airline aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
What are your thoughts on SAS’ report? Has the closed airspace affected you? Let us know.
