Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) operates a fleet of 130 aircraft across short- and long-haul routes. The long-haul fleet comprises eleven aircraft from the Airbus A330 and A350 families, alongside 55 from the Airbus A320 family. The wider fleet includes 32 additional A320s, nine Embraer E195-100s, 17 Bombardier CRJs, and six ATR-72s.
Like many carriers, SAS has navigated significant headwinds in recent years. Emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2024, the airline entered a new chapter — leaner, more focused, and with renewed ambition. Rather than stepping back from its sustainability commitments, SAS has doubled down on them, recognising that operational efficiency and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.
SAS ran a trial of ClearPath from December 2022 to May 2023, initially deploying the solution across its A320 and A321 fleet. The results were compelling. Fuel efficiency improved by 1% between 2019 and 2023, with a further gain of 0.25% from 2023 to 2024 — particularly notable within the Airbus Neo fleet.
Svein Erik Jackwitz, Fuel Efficiency Specialist at SAS, summarised the outcome:
"The results were impressive, showing significant reductions in cruise fuel consumption. We have seen pilots embracing ClearPath, and we found the service highly effective."
ClearPath identifies the most cost-effective flight trajectory using high-resolution 10K wind and temperature forecasts from the UK Met Office. Pilots receive clear decision support via ACARS messaging, guiding them toward the most fuel-efficient flight profile available. Avtech's solutions also cover all turbulence hazards, providing accurate weather intelligence including SIGMET alerts to keep crews informed and safe.
One of the more telling outcomes of the ClearPath rollout has been its influence on pilot behaviour. Early data showed pilots flying at lower altitudes than recommended, but as familiarity with the system grew, crews began consistently aligning with its recommendations, resulting in meaningful fuel savings. ClearPath also helped pilots avoid unfavourable temperature ranges, further optimising flight paths.
Analysis across the fleet points to significant remaining opportunity. Flights identified as candidates for optimisation showed an average fuel saving of 24.1 kilograms per flight, equivalent to a 1.44% reduction — underscoring the potential still to be unlocked as adoption deepens.
Svein Erik Jackwitz brings over 35 years of aviation experience to his role, having joined SAS in 1990. With extensive time on both narrow- and wide-body aircraft, and a background in Mechanical Engineering, he has a well-rounded understanding of aerodynamic physics and aircraft behaviour , giving him a strong foundation for driving practical, efficient, and sustainable flying across the fleet.
Leveraging a Flight Cruise Profile Optimizer for eco-efficient flying. Watch the SAS initiative from Aircraft IT Airline & Aerospace MRO & Flight Operations IT Conference – EMEA.
