Is it a case of speeding up, of 'com', of bluffing? The fact remains that Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) clearly intends to increase its cruising speed on thesustainable aviation. And she has set herself some ambitious deadlines, inviting travellers to join her on this long-haul voyage of the energy transition. Le 2 June marks the opening of bookings for the first electric flights, which SAS intends to operate in 2028. A countdown timer is now displayed on the company's website, urging passengers to " reserve their place in aviation history ". While such a move, backed up by dates, would seem to confirm the airline's entry into the era of electric aircraft, there are nevertheless a few nuances to be considered...
Travellers tempted by the adventure will have to do so with a margin of manoeuvre that is incompatible with a business trip - and for the most organised "pros", who plan their meetings five years in advance. While the opening date for bookings is known, the inaugural flight is currently limited to the year 2028. " The exact date will be communicated in due course, the ambition being 2028. "warns the company, assuring that " Travellers who have made a booking will be kept constantly informed by e-mail as details take shape. ".
Another grey area, and not the least: embarking on a historic flight is one thing, but to go where? Of course, it's not the destination that counts, it's the journey... The inauguration to which SAS is inviting travellers has made this maxim its own. Its only known route map to date includes three countries - Sweden, Denmark and Norway - from which domestic flights will take off. The airline concedes that it is dependent on technological developments between now and then, and cannot therefore specify the distance or duration of the flight. Nor can it say which aircraft will be used: " The final decision has not yet been made on which electric aircraft will make the first flight. SAS has launched a number of initiatives in favour of zero-emission flights, and the final selection will be made in time for the first electric flight, scheduled for 2028. ".
So there's a lot of conditional information, and unprecedented general terms and conditions of sale, with no guarantees whatsoever: enough to scare off business travellers and travel managers... So why has SAS embarked on this risky booking? " We do this to demonstrate our belief in the development of electric aviation as a viable option for low or zero emission aviation. We will now continue to work with the industry to develop the technology and make this a reality. That said, we can't give any guarantees, the flight date is estimated based on dialogue with potential suppliers and when they will be able to deliver commercial electric aircraft. ". To be continued.
