SAS Group has signed a firm order for 35 A320neo aircraft, while the carrier will also lease 15 additional A320neos from third parties. This new commitment will result in SAS becoming an all Airbus operator, using the fuel-efficient A320 family for its mainline European operations, as well as for its extensive domestic services in Scandinavia.

SAS and Etihad Airways are set to begin codeshare operations and provide customers with enhanced travel options between Scandinavia and the UAE. The agreement, which is subject to regulatory approval, will strengthen both carriers by enabling them to offer greater connectivity to and from a number of key European cities.

SAS is adding the first seven new routes for the 2014 timetable. From the end of March 2014, SAS will be opening Stockholm-Visby, Stavanger-Edinburgh, Oslo-Edinburgh, Oslo-Aalborg, Oslo-Aberdeen and Oslo-Chania, as well as Copenhagen-Leeds Bradford.

Scandinavian Airlines has launched a crowdsourcing portal, My SAS Idea, where customers are invited to share their ideas of how the airline can improve their service or do things differently. With the new initiative, the airline hopes to start a continuous dialogue with its customers and enlist their help and participation in order to launch new products and services.

Nordic airline SAS has appointed Rickard Gustafson as its new president and chief executive with a brief to stem losses. With a background in insurance – where he is presently chief executive of Codan/Trygg-Hansa – Mr Gustafson was drafted in following the surprise resignation of Mats Jansson earlier this year.

Scandinavian Airlines chief executive Mats Jansson has confirmed he will leave the airline later this year. Mr Jansson, who has been with the company for four years, cited his expiration of his contract and age as key factors behind the decision.