SAS Opens Bookings for Revolutionary Electric Flights, Pioneering a Greener Future in Aviation

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has announced that it will offer seats on its first electric planes, the Heart Aerospace 30-seat ES-30 model, for commercial passengers to reserve. The flights are set to take off in 2028 and mark the first time such a service has been available to customers. The announcement reflects SAS’s ambitious plans to maintain its position as an innovation leader within the aviation industry, “particularly when it comes to exploring new ways to overcome the challenges of making aviation more sustainable,” according to Anko van der Werff, President and CEO of SAS.
SAS says the electrified planes will operate on domestic flights in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, with the exact date and airport locations to be announced at a later date. At launch, all 30 seats on each of the three inaugural flights were available from 6 a.m. ET with no deposit required. To commemorate this milestone, each seat cost 1,946 Swedish Krona, which is about $179 in U.S. dollars and is a tribute to the year the company was founded. Reservations sold out immediately, with interested travelers able to join a waitlist or sign up for notifications of future opportunities.
Van der Werff explained that the idea of offering electric flights is designed to manifest the airline’s deep belief in the development of such electric airplanes, and to demonstrate to its clientele that the future of aviation is closer than many may think. “When it comes to the aircraft, we have multiple initiatives underway towards zero-emission flights, and final selection will be done in time for the first electric flight—and beyond,” he added.
Passengers travelling on the electrified planes are promised an experience similar to current flights, with a few sustainable touches. “As always, our crew will be on station to make the flight as comfortable as possible for our travelers,” Van der Werff said. “Apart from the ceremonial feeling of being part of history, the most tangible difference for passengers will be the much-reduced noise levels on takeoff and landing.”
SAS has been working toward the goal of zero-emissions by the year 2050 and achieving various milestones along the way. This includes reducing total carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2025 through more fuel-efficient planes and sustainable energy. By 2030, the airline is aiming for a 50 percent reduction in noise levels compared to the levels recorded back in 2010. According to Visit Sweden, these targets are in line with the Swedish government’s targets, which seek to achieve net-zero emissions on domestic air travel by 2030 and on all international flights from the Nordic country by 2045.
Although SAS has been the first to offer seats on an electric plane to the public, other carriers such as United and Mesa Air Group among others have also been working with Swedish-based Heart Aerospace to add electric planes to their fleets. In 2021, United and Mesa Air Group ordered 200 19-seat planes, while Air Canada purchased 30 of the 30-seater planes. Heart Aerospace is already supplying electric planes to Air New Zealand and Portuguese carrier Sevenair.
It’s worth noting, however, that while SAS and its competitors are making strides in the field of contemporary aviation technology, researchers have highlighted the limitations of electric planes. Specifically, current technology and the required battery weight to operate the aircraft mean that electric planes can only transport short distances over short to mid-haul routes. Nevertheless, being at the forefront of green aviation is a significant breakthrough that SAS is proud to talk about as it moves towards a landmark in taking its first electric flights. “We can guarantee that everything from check-in to onboard service will make these flights an unforgettable experience for everyone involved,” van der Werff said.
India and US Unveil New Road Map to Accelerate Defense Cooperation and Strengthen Regional Security in the Indo-Pacific
On Monday, India and the United States revealed a new road map aimed at accelerating defense industrial cooperation and co-production in areas like air combat, land mobility systems, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, munitions, and the undersea domain. The announcement came during delegation-level talks between Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin.
The new road map aims to “change the paradigm for cooperation between US and Indian defense sectors” by providing India with access to cutting-edge technologies and supporting the country’s defense modernization plans, according to the US Department of Defense (DoD). Furthermore, both sides will explore opportunities for co-development of new technologies, co-production of existing and new systems, and increased collaboration between their defense start-ups.
Among the topics discussed during the talks were manufacturing GE-414 fighter jet engines in India via technology transfer, purchasing high-tech drones for the Indian military, the ongoing border dispute between India and China in eastern Ladakh, and ensuring a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. As one of the officials mentioned, “The GE-414 engine deal will be a stepping stone to bring newer technologies to India. The scope for collaboration is immense across critical defense domains.”
India is also planning to buy Predator drones from the US for its three services, with discussions currently underway to finalize the required numbers. In addition, the two nations agreed to initiate negotiations on a new arrangement that would allow them to access each other’s industrial resources to address unexpected supply chain disruptions and meet their security needs. “The Secretary and Minister Singh also pledged to review regulatory hurdles impeding closer industry-to-industry cooperation,” the DoD statement added.
During their meetings, both parties exchanged views on various regional security issues and committed to working closely with India to support a “shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.” They also discussed the growing importance of defense innovation and cooperation in emerging areas such as space, cyberspace, and artificial intelligence. The US-India Business Council is set to launch the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) on June 21, a new initiative aimed at advancing cutting-edge technology cooperation.
The two nations assessed their strong and diverse defense collaboration efforts, agreeing to sustain the pace of engagement, according to an official Indian statement. The statement also highlighted that both sides discussed regional security concerns, emphasizing their mutual interest in upholding peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.