Airline overview
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) was founded in 1946, when the flag carriers of Sweden, Denmark and Norway formed a cross-border joint operating system. The group is registered and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with IATA two-letter code SK, ICAO three-letter code SAS and radio callsign SCANDINAVIAN. Its main hub is Copenhagen Kastrup, with Oslo Gardermoen and Stockholm Arlanda as further hubs. SAS Cargo is the freight division, drawing its capacity mainly from belly space on the passenger network, with sascargo.com as the official website.
On ownership, SAS completed a restructuring in 2024 that changed its shareholder base; public sources list Castlelake, the Danish state, Air France-KLM and Lind Invest among the holders. In September 2024 SAS joined SkyTeam. The direct effect for Chinese shippers is a tighter connection between its network and global alliance partners, so cargo connecting at Copenhagen can reach a wider range of European and North American points.
On the freight business, public sources show SAS Cargo serving 135 destinations in 31 countries and carrying more than 60,000 tonnes a year, with capacity mainly in the belly holds of Airbus widebody and narrowbody aircraft and the Copenhagen hub handling consolidation and transfer. Its booking system went live with an online booking portal as early as 2015, and public sources show more than eighty percent of bookings are made online. In March 2025 SAS Cargo announced a partnership with the booking platform cargo.one, opening quoting, booking and tracking to forwarders worldwide from April 2025, with a maximum weight of 10,000 kilograms per piece and coverage of temperature-controlled cargo.
On products, SAS Cargo offers tiered products to suit different transit requirements and cargo characteristics. SAS Basic Cargo is aimed at general cargo with a predictable transit requirement that can be planned ahead, and booking online in advance earns a better rate. Special cargo such as temperature-controlled goods, pharmaceuticals, dangerous goods and live animals is accepted under IATA rules and the applicable conditions must be confirmed with the carrier before booking.
For Chinese shippers the core capability is the nonstop channel from China to the Nordics and the consolidation role of the Copenhagen hub. Chinese export cargo can fly nonstop from Shanghai Pudong to Copenhagen, or connect at Copenhagen to points in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, major European cities and North America, all under one waybill.
China contact
No cargo office of its own in China is published. SAS Cargo has no publicly listed cargo department or sales office of its own in China, so Chinese shippers needing to book should contact its local agent in China or ask Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited for help, website https://goodhope86.com.
Routine business contact runs through official SAS Cargo channels, with sascargo.com as the official site where online booking and cargo tracking are handled. The SAS group head office is in Stockholm, and published switchboard numbers are +46 8 797 0000, +47 6481 6050 for Norway and +45 3232 0000 for Denmark. Those are group public numbers, and freight business should be conducted through the airline's official cargo channels.
Chinese shippers wanting to check capacity, rates and flights can ask Goodhope to request a quote from the carrier or its accredited cargo agent. Because capacity comes from belly holds, it moves with the passenger schedule and changes quickly in peak season and around holidays, so booking early and allowing handling time is advised.
Aircraft types and fleet
SAS Cargo operates no freighter fleet of its own; its capacity comes from the belly holds of the SAS passenger fleet. The aircraft carrying freight are mainly Airbus widebodies and narrowbodies, with the A350-900 and A330-300 on long-haul routes and the A320neo family and A321LR on intra-European and medium-haul routes.
The Airbus A350-900 is a new-generation long-haul widebody whose composite fuselage and fuel efficiency suit long sectors; it flies the Copenhagen to Shanghai Pudong route, and its belly hold takes general cargo, temperature-controlled cargo and high-value goods. The Airbus A330-300 is a long-haul widebody used on transatlantic and long sectors with a large belly volume suited to bulk cargo. The A320neo family and A321LR cover intra-European and medium sectors, with belly space used for regional consolidation and connections.
In operational terms, belly capacity follows the passenger schedule: frequencies are stable, but what a flight can carry depends on passenger and baggage loads. Cargo normally goes into the hold as loose pieces or on pallets and in containers, and piece dimensions are limited by the hold door, so long or heavy pieces need loading conditions confirmed in advance; temperature-controlled cargo needs approved insulated packaging with dry ice or phase-change material and must be declared under the dangerous goods rules.
| Aircraft type | Use | Cargo notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A350-900 | Long-haul, including Copenhagen to Shanghai Pudong | Widebody belly capacity, suited to general cargo, temperature-controlled cargo and high-value cargo |
| Airbus A330-300 | Long-haul and transatlantic | Widebody belly capacity with larger volume, suited to consolidated cargo |
| Airbus A320neo family | Intra-European and medium-haul | Narrowbody belly capacity for regional consolidation and transit connections |
| Airbus A321LR | Medium-haul and transatlantic | Narrowbody belly capacity, supplementing medium sectors |
| Dedicated freighters | No public information available | Capacity is mainly passenger belly hold; no scheduled freighter service is publicly listed |
Airport services and schedules in China
Airport services in China
Within China, Shanghai Pudong International Airport is the publicly listed nonstop point for SAS Cargo, with belly capacity on the Airbus A350-900 service from Copenhagen to Shanghai Pudong; public flight data shows flight numbers SK997 and SK998, with schedules changing by season, times local, and actual schedules subject to the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking. No public information is available on nonstop flights from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu or other Chinese gateways, and cargo can reach the Nordics through Shanghai Pudong or a European hub connection.
On the China side, Shanghai Pudong is the main departure gateway, and cargo from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Zhengzhou and other gateways can be consolidated at Shanghai Pudong by domestic transfer or international connection before export. Cargo is export declared and screened at the Chinese gateway and loaded, then handled at Copenhagen as international transit or direct clearance, with one air waybill covering the whole movement and no second export declaration inside China.
Schedules on the China routes
The schedule summary below is compiled from public flight data and is subject to the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking.
| Leg | Country and airport | Schedule overview (published sources) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong PVG — Copenhagen CPH (SK998) | China — Denmark | Operated by Airbus A350-900; public sources show several flights a week, with schedules changing by season |
| Copenhagen CPH — Shanghai Pudong PVG (SK997) | Denmark — China | Operated by Airbus A350-900; public sources show several flights a week, with schedules changing by season |
| Shanghai Pudong PVG — Oslo OSL / Stockholm ARN | China — Norway / Sweden | Connected through Copenhagen; schedules follow the connecting flights |
| Nonstop from Beijing PEK, Guangzhou CAN or Shenzhen SZX to the Nordics | China — Nordics | No public information available; connection through a European hub is possible |
| Hong Kong HKG direction | Hong Kong, China | No public information available |
Times are local. Actual schedules vary with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
The route resumed on 30 September 2023 as SAS's first service back into the Asian market, and the first flight carried Nordic exports to China including fresh fish, king crab, spares and laboratory equipment. For Chinese exporters the return belly space on the same route is available capacity from China to the Nordics, on which they can plan export bookings.
On the connection process, cargo completes export formalities at Shanghai Pudong and flies nonstop to Copenhagen, where it is transferred or directly cleared and the ground agent completes document exchange and loading for the connection to points in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Europe or North America. Connecting time depends on flight density that day and the actual connections govern; if seasons or capacity change, the forwarder notifies the shipper in advance and adjusts the plan.
Freight connections from China to the Nordics and worldwide
From China, cargo flies nonstop from Shanghai Pudong to Copenhagen, or connects through European hubs such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris into the SAS network, reaching the main airports of Denmark, Sweden and Norway and extending from the Copenhagen hub to major European cities, North American points and second-tier cities within the Nordic region. As the main hub, Copenhagen handles consolidation, transfer and distribution.
The main Chinese gateways of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Zhengzhou can all access the network by consolidation at Shanghai Pudong or by connecting through a European hub, with one waybill covering the whole transit. Cargo is handled at the hub airport under international transit procedures with no second export declaration inside China; rates accrue leg by leg and the forwarder calculates them together.
On cargo types, the network suits electronic components, machinery and parts, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, auto parts, apparel and textiles, fresh and cold-chain products, high-value goods and e-commerce parcels. Charging follows IATA rules on the greater of gross weight and volumetric weight, with volumetric weight calculated as length times width times height divided by 6000; shippers of low-density cargo should optimise packaging in advance to control the chargeable weight. Cargo that is heavy per piece or out of gauge needs the belly loading conditions and ground equipment confirmed in advance.
For smaller lots or widely spread destinations, consolidation can be used, with the forwarder consolidating at the departure gateway and booking as one; for cargo with a predictable transit requirement, advance-booking products such as SAS Basic Cargo give better rates. The nonstop leg from China to the Nordics takes about ten-odd hours, and with ground handling and distribution the end-to-end transit depends on the gateway, the connection and the season; the forwarder states the expected transit time and capacity plan in the quote.
Freight advantages from China
From the point of view of shipping from China, the advantages of SAS Cargo are concentrated in the following areas.
First, the nonstop channel from China to the Nordics. Shanghai Pudong to Copenhagen is flown by the Airbus A350-900, so Chinese export cargo reaches the Nordics without a third-country connection, with fewer handovers and less risk of damage and delay.
Second, the consolidation role of the Copenhagen hub. Copenhagen is the main hub, so cargo can transfer quickly on arrival to points in Denmark, Sweden and Norway and to major European cities, and second-tier cities in the Nordic region are covered by regional connections.
Third, the schedule stability of belly capacity. Belly capacity rides on scheduled passenger flights with regular timings, which suits long-term customers needing a fixed shipping rhythm for production and inventory planning.
Fourth, digital booking and tracking. The online portal supports search, quoting, booking and tracking, and from 2025 the capacity is available on the cargo.one platform where forwarders worldwide can quote and book, with a 10,000 kilogram per piece limit and high operating efficiency.
Fifth, capability in temperature-controlled and pharmaceutical cargo. The network covers temperature-controlled services, so Chinese exports of pharmaceuticals, biologicals and high-value electronics can be shipped under temperature-controlled arrangements.
Taken together, the airline suits Chinese shippers of the following kinds: manufacturers and traders exporting electromechanical products, consumer goods and e-commerce cargo to Denmark, Sweden and Norway; long-term customers needing stable schedules and traceable service; and exporters with temperature-controlled, high-value or time-critical cargo. Arranging everything through a forwarder secures rates, capacity, transit time and ground handling together.
For cargo whose destination is outside the nonstop network, a European trucking service can complete the last mile as an air-road solution; road networks in the Nordics are mature, balancing transit time against cost, which particularly suits larger volumes with a more relaxed transit requirement.
Booking path from China
The booking process for a Chinese shipper using SAS Cargo is as follows.
First, provide the forwarder with the cargo details, including commodity, piece count, gross weight, volume, departure gateway and destination airport. Second, the forwarder assesses route and capacity, decides between nonstop Shanghai Pudong to Copenhagen and a European hub connection, and confirms whether the destination is within the network. Third, the booking is placed through the online portal, an accredited forwarder or a digital booking platform and the air waybill is issued under prefix 117. Fourth, the cargo departs the Chinese gateway and is transferred or cleared at Copenhagen. Fifth, it is cleared and collected at the destination airport, or delivered by trucking service.
A freight forwarder manages the air waybill, tracking and exception handling throughout. Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited can handle all of these steps and provides a single point of contact from quotation and booking through to delivery.
Documents to prepare before booking include the commercial invoice, packing list, declaration data and any import documents the destination requires; temperature-controlled cargo, dangerous goods or live animals also need the relevant certificates and permits. Rates normally consist of base freight, fuel surcharge and security fee, with transit handling charged separately for connecting cargo and road haulage charged separately for final truck delivery. The forwarder lists all charges once, at quotation stage. Once the booking is confirmed, the forwarder issues the air waybill and passes on the booking details, and the shipper can track the whole journey with the reference number.
Because capacity is mainly belly hold, space tightens in peak season and around holidays, so booking early and allowing handling time is advised. For cargo with a predictable transit requirement that can be planned ahead, the advance-booking products give better rates, with the specific terms as published by the carrier.
Specialist freight value-added services
SAS Cargo builds on belly capacity from the passenger network and offers tiered freight products. The economy product for general cargo supports advance online booking at a preferential rate and suits Chinese exporters with a steady shipping rhythm and standard cargo characteristics. Tracking and booking are integrated in the official portal, so Chinese shippers and forwarders can check flights from China, capacity and cargo status in real time.
On digital channels, SAS Cargo partnered with the booking platform cargo.one in March 2025, opening to about 25,000 forwarder users worldwide from April 2025 with search, quoting, booking and tracking for general and temperature-controlled cargo, a maximum of 10,000 kilograms per piece, and coverage of destinations including Frankfurt, London, New York, Miami, Atlanta, Tokyo and Seoul, with more markets to follow. Chinese forwarders can use the platform to search, quote, book and track cargo originating in China directly.
On cargo types, common categories carried from China are electronic components, machinery and parts, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, auto parts, apparel and textiles, fresh and cold-chain products, high-value goods and e-commerce parcels. Temperature-controlled cargo, live animals, valuables and dangerous goods need the applicable conditions, packaging and document requirements confirmed with the carrier before booking, and some categories may be restricted; the carrier's confirmation that day governs.
On ground handling, the Copenhagen hub consolidates and transfers cargo originating in China, with document exchange and loading under international transit procedures. Piece dimensions are limited by the belly hold door, so long or heavy pieces need loading conditions and ground equipment confirmed in advance to avoid cargo that cannot be loaded on arrival.
On multimodal options, cargo exported from China with a relaxed transit requirement or a destination far from a European airport can fly to Copenhagen and continue by trucking service, balancing transit time against cost; ocean carriage to a European base port with inland transport onward is the usual choice for bulk cargo. Goodhope can quote air and sea-air options against each other for given cargo parameters, helping the shipper balance transit time and cost.
On service commitments, the freight forwarder updates the shipper at four points: booking, handover, transit and arrival. If a flight is rescheduled or capacity changes, an alternative is offered at once. Rates and transit times are stated in full at quotation, and no charge is added beyond surcharges published by the carrier, so costs stay transparent throughout.
Source note: the material here is compiled from airline websites, group public information and public flight data. Office addresses, telephone numbers, fleet composition and route arrangements may change with operations, and the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking governs.
Common freight questions
Does SAS Cargo operate nonstop flights from China?
Yes. Shanghai Pudong to Copenhagen is its publicly listed nonstop route, flown by the Airbus A350-900; no public information is available on nonstop flights from Beijing, Guangzhou or other gateways.
Which countries can Chinese cargo reach?
Cargo reaches Denmark direct and connects at Copenhagen to Sweden, Norway, major European cities and North American points; the network confirmed on the day of booking governs.
What transit times apply?
Shanghai Pudong to Copenhagen takes about ten-odd hours in the air, and end-to-end transit including ground handling and distribution is subject to the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking.
What information is needed to book?
Cargo name, number of pieces, gross weight, volume, origin port, destination airport and the necessary import and export documents.
Can I book online?
Search, booking and tracking are available online through the official portal, and the capacity is also on a digital booking platform where forwarders can quote and book.
What is the air waybill prefix?
The SK air waybill prefix is 117, issued by the carrier or its accredited cargo agent.
How is cargo tracked?
Cargo is traced by air waybill number through the official portal or the forwarder, and Goodhope provides tracking and exception notification throughout.
Can temperature-controlled and pharmaceutical cargo be carried?
The network covers temperature-controlled services; packaging, temperature range and document requirements must be confirmed before booking, subject to the carrier's confirmation that day.
Which ports in China can I ship from?
Shanghai Pudong is the nonstop gateway, and Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Zhengzhou and other gateways can access the network by consolidation or a European hub connection.
How is chargeable weight calculated?
Charged on the greater of gross weight and volumetric weight, with volumetric weight calculated as length times width times height divided by 6000.
What is the maximum weight per piece?
The published limit on the digital booking channel is 10,000 kilograms per piece; actual limits depend on hold door dimensions and ground equipment, subject to the carrier's confirmation that day.
How is cargo cleared after arrival?
The consignee or its agent clears customs at the destination airport, and we can coordinate support from our destination agent.
Do you provide delivery?
Can be arranged through a freight forwarder, combining truck flights and customs clearance to complete delivery, subject to the cargo and the destination.
What happens if cargo is lost or damaged?
Claims are filed with the carrier or its agent against the air waybill and transport records and handled under the applicable conditions of carriage; we assist with the claim.