As one would expect from a Scandinavian company, SAS has always kept the painting of its aircraft simple. The experts from Stockholm Design Lab created the last livery 21 years ago. «Simplicity, attention and reliability» were the core attributes that the Swedish agency's creative team focused on.
A sand-colored fuselage, red engines, the inscription Scandinavian Airlines at the front of the aircraft and a blue tail fin featuring the white letters SAS - that's how the airline's aircraft still look to this day. That's changing now. On Thursday (September 19th) SAS presented the new livery in Copenhagen. The Scandinavian airline will continue to take a minimalist approach to its design in the future.
A350 and A320 Neo are first in line
The Airbus A350 and A320 Neo of SAS will be the first to wear the new design. But it will still take a while before it can be seen in the sky. The first aircraft - an A350 - will be painted at Airbus only next week. The airline expects to take it over towards the end of the year. For the presentation of the new paintwork today, SAS, therefore, had to use a hotel lobby.
In the new design, SAS detaches itself from one color. The red of the engine casing disappears and gives way to a silver tone. But there is more paint at the tail. The blue of the vertical stabilizer will extend onto the fuselage. The most eye-catching feature, however, will be the new lettering. From now on, the letters SAS will span across the entire front of the aircraft.
Influenced by cabin design
According to SAS boss Rickard Gustafson, the new color scheme is based on the new design of the cabins. In 2015, the airline began renewing the interior of the aircraft. With the new colors, the Scandinavians also want to make it clear that they are heralding a new chapter in their company history. This includes the renewal of their fleet. SAS has ordered 80 A320 Neo and eight A350s from Airbus.
See the picture gallery above for pictures of the new SAS paintwork and earlier designs.
SAS gets rid of red and adds more blue
Here it is: SAS presented its new livery on September 19th in Copenhagen.
More blew, no red and a new silver - those are the core changes.
The A320 Neo and A350 aircraft will be first to feature it.
From now on, the engines are painted in silver and blue.
The blue of the vertical stabilizer was extended onto the fuselage by the designers.
Also the symbols featuring the national flags of the Scandinavian countries was simplified and appears more modern.
On the bottom of the fuselage «Scandinavian» will be painted on.
This is what the current livery of SAS looks like.
The airline has stuck to it for the past 21 years.
Even before that, the airline chose a simple livery. Here on a DC-10.
Also their Douglas DC-4 were painted minimally.
