Job to Ensure Customers Arrive In Time

SAS Scandinavian Airlines was Europe's most punctual major airline during 2009, with an overall arrival punctuality of 89.11%. SAS was also the world's third most punctual major airline for 2009 after Japan Airlines and ANA (All Nippon Airways) and only one of two European carriers in the top 10.

"We are exceptionally proud to be Europe's most punctual airline, and amongst the top three in the world. This position really underlines our promises to minimize our customer's time related to travel and to maximize their value of the time spent with us. Our staff does a tremendous job to ensure our customers arrive at their destination in time, especially considering the sometime severe weather conditions we are faced with in Scandinavia during the winter months," says John Dueholm, CEO, Scandinavian Airlines.

All airlines within the SAS Group, which also includes Finland's Blue1 and Norwegian airline Widerøe, were amongst the most punctual in the world. Blue1's punctuality for 2009 was 86.4%, while Widerøe was Europe's most punctual airline in both November and December. In December, Widerøe's punctuality was 83.99% and SAS's 78.27%, compared to competitors such as British Airways (67.31%), Norwegian (61.11%), Easyjet (54.18%) and Finnair (48.01%).

The punctuality statistic derives from Flightstats, which track the performance of over 150,000 flights per day, and provide real time flight status to millions of travelers worldwide each day.