In April, Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) witnessed a substantial increase in passenger numbers, indicating a promising growth trajectory for the airline. A total of 2.1 million passengers chose SAS for their air travel, representing a 12% increase compared to the same month last year. This rise in passengers is a robust indicator of the airline’s ongoing recovery and expansion strategies post-pandemic.
SAS Operations In April
Further analyzing the operational metrics, SAS’s capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), saw a 7% uplift. More intriguingly, the Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK), a critical gauge of the airline’s sales volume, climbed by 9%. These statistics not only signify enhanced operational scale but also improved efficiency in capacity utilization.
The flown load factor, an essential metric that measures the percentage of seat occupancy, stood at 77% in April. This is a pertinent figure as it indicates the efficiency with which SAS is managing its seat inventory. High load factors generally reflect a healthy balance between supply (number of seats offered) and demand (number of seats filled). This is crucial for profitability in the airline industry.
Overall, the April performance metrics reflect positively on SAS. They suggest that the airline is expanding its reach and improving its operational efficiency and market appeal.
SkyTeam Alliance Agreement Signed
“Positive developments continue in April, with 2.1 million passengers traveling with SAS, up 12% compared to the same month last year. We had solid operational performance in April and reached our targets for punctuality and regularity, despite being impacted by external factors such as the closure of Norwegian airspace on 25 April. SAS has also signed an Alliance Adherence Agreement with SkyTeam, concluding that SAS will join SkyTeam on September 1 this year. We are very excited to have reached this pivotal milestone in our alliance transition journey. SAS’ customers and EuroBonus members will be able to enjoy new destinations and benefits as part of the SkyTeam alliance family, marking the start of an exciting future for customers, partners and employees alike,” says Anko van der Werff, President & CEO of SAS.
SAS Traffic Tables April
| SAS total traffic (scheduled and charter) | Apr24 | Change1 | Nov23- Apr24 | Change 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASK (Mill.) | 3,695 | 7.4% | 19,430 | 11.1% |
| RPK (Mill.) | 2,853 | 9.4% | 14,459 | 14.9% |
| Load factor | 77.2% | 1.4 pp | 74.4% | 2.5 pp |
| No. of passengers (000) | 2,115 | 12.0% | 10,647 | 7.3% |
| 1 Change compared to same period last year, pp = percentage points |
| Geographical development, schedule | Apr24 vs. Apr23 | Nov23-Apr24 vs. Nov22-Apr23 |
|---|---|---|
| RPK | ASK | |
| Intercontinental | 14.0% | 6.6% |
| Europe/Intra-Scandinavia | 8.6% | 9.2% |
| Domestic | 3.6% | 4.1% |
| Preliminary yield and PASK | Apr24 | Nominal change1 | FX adjusted change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield, SEK | 0.96 | -4.3% | -5.2% |
| PASK, SEK | 0.74 | -2.3% | -3.2% |
| Apr24 | |||
| Punctuality (departure 15 min) | 85.6% | ||
| Regularity | 99.0 % | ||
| Change in total CO2 emissions | 18.8% | ||
| Change in CO2 emissions per available seat kilometer | -0.6% | ||
| Definitions: |
Definitions
RPK – Revenue passenger kilometers
ASK – Available seat kilometers Load factor – RPK/ASK
Yield – Passenger revenues/RPK (scheduled)
PASK – Passenger revenues/ASK (scheduled)
Change in CO2 emissions per available seat kilometers – SAS passenger-related carbon emissions divided by total available seat kilometers (incl non-revenue and EuroBonus tickets), rolling 12 months vs rolling 12 months previous year
From fiscal year 2020, SAS reports changes in CO2 emissions in total and per Available Seat Kilometers (ASK). This is to align with its goal to reduce total CO2 emissions by 25% by 2025 compared to 2005.
