Airbus A350 offers even more benefits for passengers

The new SAS Airbus A350 is a flying showcase of a wide range of technologies and design know-how, all in service of a more pleasant flight. The plane itself brings benefits such as a reduced cabin pressure (altitude) and better humidity, bigger overhead bins and windows, and higher ceilings.

Beyond that is a range of custom features that SAS has implemented to further improve things. There’s an improved entrance for passengers at boarding, specially designed by SAS, so that instead of walking into a messy-looking galley they’re met with a nicely presented, neat area with inlaid lights and other attractive design features. During the flight, that area doubles as a self-service refreshment area for SAS Business travelers, with a renewed focus on offerings that enhance well-being, such as mocktails and other refreshing, healthy options. And don’t worry – the signature self-serve espresso machine much-loved on current aircraft will still be available.

All cabin classes, including Business, Plus and Go, have been improved with the passenger in mind, with each cabin getting high-power USB ports, bigger and higher-resolution personal screens and more.

Business class gets improved seat padding and also an increased range of adjustments to recline and so on. Plus gets a leg rest, including an adjustable foot support and a separate, dedicated cabin, while those in Go benefit from an improved seat, better storage and a bi-fold tray table.

Plus and Go also get a new self-service refreshment area, which not only offers convenient access to snacks and drinks, but also encourages passengers to take a short walk, another aspect of the designer’s focus on improving well-being. In an illuminating example of the attention to detail employed on the A350, SAS staff spent two days working with the company that does the wall laminate designs in order to get just the right shade of color and patterns to embody the SAS look and feel.

“The square meters inside this airframe are very expensive,” says Per Tidéus, Product Manager for Aircraft Interior & Equipment. “So we need to utilize it in the most effective way, both so that we get the best out of it for our passengers, and also for our cabin crew.”

Importantly for Scandinavia, which prides itself on providing a good working environment for staff, special attention has been paid so that cabin crew can work comfortably and efficiently during flights. Wider aisles in SAS Business allow for easier service delivery, the larger work surfaces in the galleys ease food preparation, while six cabin crew beds and two pilot beds mean they can get real rest on longer flights.

Then there’s the lighting. The advanced LED system can create millions of colors, and SAS has worked on creating calming lighting programs to help passengers feel better on longer flights. The sunrise program, for example, mimics the hues of an actual Scandinavian sunrise as they change over the course of several minutes. It’s even possible for the lighting to recreate the feeling of clouds passing in front of the sun and blue sky. For important national days, they can also be tuned to display the national colors of the Scandinavian countries.´

The A350 will operate it's first passenger flight in January 2020 on the Copenhagen-Chicago route. After that, look for more of the planes to debut gradually throughout the network, starting with Beijing and San Francisco later in the year. SAS will take delivery of eight A350s through 2021, and possibly more after that.