The SAS Group Traffic figures March 2009

The SAS Group Traffic figures March 2009

SAS Group's March traffic figures 
• SAS Group's traffic decreased by 16.7 % during March and seat capacity was
down 3.9% vs. 2008.
• SAS Group carried 2.2 million passengers in March, down 9.3% vs. 2008. 
• Total passenger load factor in February was down by 9.9 p.u. to 64.5%. 

Group market trends and yield development 
Yield for Scandinavian Airlines in February was up by 2.6%. For March 2009, the
change in yield is expected to be more positive and positively affected by the
Easter holiday that affected March 2008 and thus comparable figures. The Easter
effect also impact capacity reduction and load factor for March.

The market is characterized by lower demand due to weaker macroeconomic
development in Scandinavia and worldwide. The challenges within the credit
market will most likely result in an even more difficult macroeconomic
environment in SAS Group's core markets. The SAS Group is currently implementing
a new strategic approach - Core SAS - to secure a profitable SAS. The strategy
includes cost initiatives of approximately SEK 4.0 billion and 18% (ASK)
capacity reduction. According to plan 6 more aircraft will be taken out of
service as from April..   

SAS Scandinavian Airlines 
• Total number of passengers reached 1.9 million during March, a decrease by
12,3%.
• Traffic decreased by 17.9% in March 

Scandinavian Airlines' traffic during March was affected by the weaker demand
and fell 17.9%. The intercontinental traffic was mostly affected and decreased
24.2%. Traffic on European routes decreased by 16.2%, mostly from Denmark
following capacity reductions. The intrascandinavian traffic decreased 8.3%. The
Swedish domestic traffic decreased partly due to closure of two destinations.
The Norwegian domestic traffic grew on southern Norwegian routes, but decreased
on the longer northern routes due to Easter occurring in April this year.

Widerøe's traffic development

Widerøe carried 179,000 passengers in March, up by 13.7%. The increase was
mainly driven by low passenger numbers last year due to Easter. The overall load
factor decreased with 5.1 p.u. to 56,6%. 

Blue 1's traffic development  
The total number of passengers was 134,000 in February, up by 0.6% vs last year.
The total traffic decreased by 6.9% vs last year and the capacity increased by
0,9%. Load factor was down by 4.9 pu. to 58.1%.