SAS CEO Anko van der Werff at World Routes 2021

The newly appointed SAS CEO Anko van der Werff shares his insights into the carrier's financial and network future.

Speaking at World Routes 2021 the newly appointed SAS CEO Anko van der Werff shares his insights into the carrier's financial and network future.

Winter demand from SAS’ home markets will be primarily driven by leisure travelers seeking sunshine from the “very dark parts of the world” in which it operates, which is “not so much just about temperature as it is about just getting some vitamin D,” said van der Werff.

The airline was “very, very happy” when the US market became available for travel to/from Europe and has seen high levels of demand, said van der Werff.

“Once that announcement came from the Biden administration, we saw demand immediately picking up and booking levels already outpacing 2019,” he said.

Photo credit: SAS Scandinavian Airlines