What SAS Cargo does

SAS Cargo is the air cargo division of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS Group), headquartered in Sweden and operating as a strategic unit of a publicly listed parent on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The company provides air freight transportation across six product lines — Priority Cargo, General Cargo, Basic Cargo, Pharma Cargo, Allotment Cargo, and Airmail — using SAS's fleet of Airbus A330 and A350 widebody aircraft plus truck feeder services, with primary hubs at Copenhagen (CPH), Oslo (OSL), and Stockholm (ARN). Its technology stack centers on a proprietary SAS Cargo Booking Portal that offers real-time pricing, availability, and instant confirmation for bookings up to 18 days in advance, complemented by a dedicated Customer Support Center for enterprise and complex shipments; the booking portal is credited with up to 90% time savings versus traditional booking methods.

SAS Cargo targets four primary customer segments: postal services (a prioritized business area with 10,000+ tons of annual airmail volume, governed by IPC, FoMbA, and UPU standards), pharmaceutical and healthcare shippers (supported by IATA CEIV certification and temperature-controlled capability on A330/A350), general freight forwarders, and time-sensitive or specialized cargo customers (perishables, dangerous goods, live animals). Revenue is generated through transactional shipment fees based on weight, volume, origin/destination, and product tier, supplemented by Allotment Cargo contracts priced at fixed rates over pre-defined periods under either Soft Block or Hard Block Space Agreements. Distribution is direct-to-shipper, with no third-party resellers — a self-serve booking portal for transactional and Basic Cargo, and high-touch enterprise sales for Priority, Pharma, and Allotment accounts. The company holds IATA CEIV Pharma certification, complies with IATA DGR and Live Animals Regulations, and operates under UPU postal rules, reinforcing its positioning in regulated cargo verticals.

Name

SAS Cargo

Legal name

SAS Cargo Group

Website

https://sascargo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SAS Cargo is the air cargo division of Scandinavian Airlines, operating from Scandinavian hubs (Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm) with A330/A350 widebody aircraft. It serves postal services, pharmaceutical shippers, freight forwarders, and time-sensitive cargo customers through Priority, General, Basic, Pharma, Allotment, and Airmail products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air Cargo Transportation Services

NAICS

Scheduled Air Transportation (48111), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Belly-Cargo Operators (Passenger Airline Freight Divisions) (THABAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scheduled Air Cargo Airlines (All-Cargo Carriers) (THABAEAA), General Cargo Air Freight Carriers (Scheduled & Charter) (TLADAAAA), Air Cargo Charter Specialists (On-Demand) (TLADAAAE)

Keywords

• Air cargo services
• Pharmaceutical logistics
• Airmail transportation
• Temperature-controlled shipping
• Cargo booking platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Kastrup

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Air Cargo Transportation Services: SAS Cargo generates revenue through charging shippers for air cargo transportation services on SAS flights and trucks. Revenue is based on weight, volume, origin/destination, and product tier (Priority, General, Basic, Pharma, Allotment, Airmail). For Allotment Cargo, contracts are priced at fixed rates for pre-defined periods with weight charges invoiced for tendered shipments or entire allotments depending on agreement type (Soft Block vs Hard Block).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAS Cargo operates as the air cargo division of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), providing air cargo transportation services across six product tiers: Priority Cargo, General Cargo, Basic Cargo, Pharma Cargo, Allotment Cargo, and Airmail. Services are delivered via SAS's fleet of Airbus A330 and A350 widebody aircraft and a truck network, with operations centered on Scandinavian hubs at Copenhagen (CPH), Oslo (OSL), and Stockholm (STO). The offering includes real-time booking through a proprietary online portal and specialized handling for pharmaceutical and postal customers.

Product overview

SAS Cargo operates as an air cargo division of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), offering a comprehensive portfolio of cargo products delivered through an extensive network of SAS flights and trucks. The product lineup includes Priority Cargo (time-optimized premium service), General Cargo (flexible standard service), Basic Cargo (cost-optimized value service), Pharma Cargo (temperature-sensitive healthcare products), Allotment Cargo (fixed-rate commitments for predictable traffic), and Airmail (mail and postal services). The company provides end-to-end cargo solutions including booking through their online Booking Portal, real-time tracking, and schedule management across Scandinavian hubs (CPH/OSL/STO) and intercontinental routes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Priority Cargo Time-optimized premium cargo service for freight forwarders and shippers requiring instant capacity, prioritized handling, and speed on all SAS flights and trucks. Features guaranteed loading priority, late acceptance flexibility, and early recovery.
• General Cargo Flexible standard cargo service for shipments of most sizes and contents to almost any destination worldwide, including dangerous goods and live animals under IATA regulations. Capacity bookable up to 18 days prior to departure.
• Basic Cargo Value-optimized, cost-efficient cargo service for shipments where price matters more than speed. Available on selected intercontinental routes and must be booked online in advance.
• Pharma Cargo Dedicated pharma transport service for pharmaceutical and healthcare temperature-sensitive products ensuring unbroken and seamless cold chain. Features prioritized handling, storage, and loading with complete process control. Available on approved stations only, with minimum 500 kg on widebody flights and 3000 kg on trucks.
• Allotment Cargo Cargo service for recurrent and predictable traffic at a fixed rate for a pre-defined period, with fixed space agreements for specific origin/destination, flights, and weekdays.
• Airmail Airmail service for postal operators providing fast and efficient transport to, from, via, and within Scandinavia for Express Mail (EMS), Priority and Non-Priority mail, and eCommerce shipments (CN38). Annual volume exceeds 10,000 tons. Governed by UPU rules and regulations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% time savings on booking using the SAS Cargo Booking Portal compared to traditional booking methods
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Copenhagen Airports A/ScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2026SAS Cargo partners with Copenhagen Airports A/S and World Courier to co-host FlyPharma Conferences in Copenhagen on October 6-7, 2026. This collaboration focuses on pharmaceutical logistics and temperature-controlled cargo handling, leveraging Copenhagen Airport as a key Scandinavian hub.
• World CouriercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2026SAS Cargo partners with World Courier and Copenhagen Airports A/S to co-host FlyPharma Conferences in Copenhagen on October 6-7, 2026. World Courier brings expertise in medical logistics and pharmaceutical transportation to the collaboration.
• International Postal Corporation (IPC)coreTechnology or IntegrationSAS Cargo is actively involved with IPC and works according to IPC standards for EDI messaging. IPC manages cross-border postal delivery services and sets standards for electronic data interchange between postal operators.
• FoMbA (Forum Mail Business)coreTechnology or IntegrationSAS Cargo uses FoMbA standards for EDI messages in airmail operations, ensuring compliance with international postal electronic data interchange requirements.
• Universal Postal Union (UPU)coreOthersSAS Cargo operates under rules and regulations established by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates postal services globally.
• IATA (International Air Transport Association)coreOthersSAS Cargo complies with IATA regulations including Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and Live Animals Regulations (LAR). Active participation in IATA events including World Cargo Symposium.
• SAS Airline PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSAS Cargo network is extended through cooperation with partner airlines, providing connectivity to destinations beyond the direct SAS flight network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IAG Cargo: Cargo division of International Airlines Group (British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus) operating scheduled belly-cargo across a comparable European flag-carrier long-haul network with a similar mix of premium, pharma and general cargo products.
• Finnair Cargo: Cargo division of Finnair, a Nordic flag carrier with a similar hub structure, similar pharmaceutical and Asia-connecting cargo focus, and comparable belly-cargo operating model making it a close regional analogue.
• Lufthansa Cargo: Cargo division of Lufthansa Group operating scheduled belly-cargo on a European flag-carrier widebody network, with comparable product portfolio (time-critical, pharma, general freight) and similar hub-and-spoke model serving as a direct analogue to SAS Cargo.
• Air France-KLM Cargo: Cargo division of Air France-KLM operating scheduled belly-cargo with comparable European widebody network, multi-hub structure (CDG/AMS), and overlapping pharma, postal and general freight customer segments.

Others

• Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) Cargo Handling: Major independent air-cargo handling and trucking operator at major European airports including CPH/OSL; adjacent ecosystem participant providing ground handling services to SAS Cargo and competing for cargo handling contracts.

Broad incumbents

• FedEx Express: Global integrator with dedicated air and ground network serving Scandinavian customers; competes with SAS Cargo for time-sensitive and pharma shipments through hub-and-spoke express services.
• Korean Air Cargo: Cargo division of Korean Air with significant scheduled and charter cargo capability, competing for trans-Pacific and intra-Asia pharma and general freight where SAS Cargo also operates.
• Emirates SkyCargo: Air cargo division of Emirates Group, operating a much larger dedicated freighter and belly-cargo network; competes for the same global pharma and general freight customers and serves as a benchmark for global airfreight scale.
• Cathay Pacific Cargo: Cargo division of Cathay Pacific operating a major scheduled air-cargo network through Hong Kong hub with comparable product portfolio including pharma and time-critical services; broader geographic reach but similar operating model.
• DHL Aviation: Air operations of Deutsche Post DHL Group, the world's largest integrator with dedicated air network; competes for the same Scandinavian shipper base on time-sensitive and express cargo products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sas-cargo-group
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• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAS Cargo