SAS orders 18 Airbus A330neo aircraft. Photo: AIRBUS Scandinavian airline SAS announced today (Tuesday, June 30, 2026) the largest investment in its history, in which it will purchase up to 40 wide-body Airbus aircraft , in a move estimated at more than $10 billion at list prices.
At the heart of the deal is an order for 18 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft, signed by SAS CEO Anko van der Werff and Airbus Vice President of Sales Benoît de Saint-Exupéry at a ceremony held in Copenhagen. The company will also add Airbus A330-300 aircraft to the fleet, which will help increase capacity until the new aircraft arrive.
According to SAS, the new aircraft will be used to expand the international flight network, strengthen existing long-haul routes and open new destinations, as part of a large-scale fleet renewal program.
The A330-900neo aircraft are equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and offer an improvement of approximately 25% in fuel consumption, carbon emissions and operating costs compared to previous generation aircraft. The aircraft are capable of flying non-stop for up to approximately 15,000 km and are equipped with Airbus' Airspace cabin.
The giant deal between SAS and Airbus. Photo: SASThe move joins SAS's order last year for 55 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft and the continued intake of Airbus A320neo aircraft, in what the company defines as its most significant fleet renewal program in recent decades.
At the same time as announcing the deal, SAS presented a study according to which the implementation of its expansion plans is expected to contribute to the creation of approximately 25,000 new jobs and add approximately 25 billion Danish kroner to Denmark's gross domestic product by 2030. In addition, the expansion is expected to support approximately 4,000 new jobs in southern Sweden.
The company also announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with SkyKraft to explore the development of synthetic aviation fuel ( e-SAF ), as part of the long-term goals to reduce emissions in the aviation industry.
Recall that last January, the company made another major deal, when it ordered 55 new Embraer E2 aircraft.
The giant deal between SAS and Airbus. Photo: SAS"This is the largest investment in our company’s history and a clear signal of our confidence in the future. At the same time, the analysis we are presenting today demonstrates the broader value of international access. Strong global links create opportunities for businesses, support jobs, attract investment, and strengthen competitiveness across our region."
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus Vice President Sales: "We are immensely proud to see SAS reaffirm its trust in Airbus to drive its fleet modernisation. The A330-900 is the undisputed benchmark for efficiency and versatility in its category. By integrating these 18 A330neo, SAS will benefit from unbeatable seat-mile economics and seamless operational synergies with its existing Airbus fleet".