Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), previously known as Scandinavian Airlines System, was a loyal customer of Douglas Aircraft Company and its successor McDonnell Douglas, operating 290 of its aircraft and all major models. These images of SAS cabins from the 1940s to the 1960s show the airline’s great passenger experience over the years.
Drink in the details of fabulous SAS interiors over the decades, including the DC-3 Dakota, the DC-4 Skymaster, the DC-6 and 6B Cloudmasters and the DC-7C Seven Seas, to the DC-8-33 -55, -62, -63, the DC9-21, -32, -33F, -41, -51 and DC-10-30, as well as the MD-81, 82. 83, 87 and 90-30.
Service on board an SAS DC-8-33
Glamour, fun, and even an after-dinner cigarette onboard an SAS DC-8 in the early 1960s
SAS first class in 1967. This cabin is the long-range DC-8-62, a version of the aircraft stretched by 7ft (2.1m), which could seat up to 189 passengers over 5,200 nmi (9,600km). SAS was one of the first customers for the DC-8-62
SAS fitted luxury touches throughout its DC-4 cabins
The SAS DC-4 on its inaugural flight from Stockholm to New York
The interior of SAS’s Ubbe Viking (OY-KGD) DC-9-21 during its delivery flight from California to Scandinavia
The inaugural flight of SAS’s DC-4. Left: Norway’s minister of transportation, Nils Langhelle. Right: Thomas Scheen Falck Jr, chairman of SAS from 1946 to 1949
An SAS DC8-8-33 flying over Svalbard
Boxed inflight meals on an SAS DC-9-21
Palomar seats on an SAS DC-8-33. This photo was taken before delivery of the aircraft
An extravagant Scandinavian country-style buffet being served on an SAS DC-8-33
SAS guests on DC aircraft welcomed the Scandinavian country-style buffet
This image from 1969 shows SAS first class passengers on a DC-8-33 being served meals by a chef, aided by crew
The facing seats on this SAS DC-8-33 made for a convivial flight experience
An inflight movie being shown on an SAS DC-8-63
Glamorous and generous meal service on an SAS DC-8-33
SAS crew serving the Scandinavian country-style buffet on a DC-8-33
SAS crew giving attentive service on a DC-8-33
SAS passengers didn’t go hungry on the DC-8-33s
The SAS DC-8-33 interior, photographed before delivery
The SAS DC-8-33 interior, photographed before delivery
Fun times on board an SAS DC-8-33
SAS’s first class in the 1960s, on a DC-8-33
A soldier relaxing on an SAS DC-4 flight
Centre seats being put to good use on an SAS DC-8-33
The factory-fresh interior of an SAS DC-8-33
Cabin service onboard SAS’s DC-4s in the 1940-50s
SAS crew tending to a sick passenger on a DC-4
SAS passengers settling in on a DC-4 flight
Social seating made flights feel shorter on SAS’s DC-8-33s
Another inflight service photo from an SAS DC-8-33
Quad seating on the SAS DC-8-33
Coffee service on the SAS DC-4
Cabin service on the SAS DC-4
An SAS passenger enjoying a snack on a DC-4
Boxed meals being distributed on an SAS DC-9
Cabin cargo being loaded on an SAS DC-4 in the 1950s
Seat triples with a centre seat blocking option, as fitted to SAS’s DC-8-33 aircraft. This photo is from 1966
SAS crew working in the galley
Breakfast in bed! A treat for first-class passengers on SAS’s DC-6
Torkil Viking, one of SAS’s DC-6Bs . The DC-6B was one of the most economical civil airliners ever built and used by charter operators many years after being phased out of SAS. 287 DC-6Bs were built
SAS DC-10-30, Sverker Viking SE-DFE, in the 1980s
SAS DC-10-30, Olav Viking LN-RKA, taking off at Juma Airport in 1976
SAS DC-9-41, The Viking King SE-DAS, pictured in April 1988. This photograph also shows the Swedish Royal Couple on tour in the USA
The SAS DC-4 cockpit
