Scandinavian Airlines Extends Civil-Military Partnership for Ukraine Evacuations

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and the Norwegian Armed Forces have renewed their Medevac agreement, keeping a specially configured Boeing 737 on standby for medical evacuation missions tied to the war in Ukraine. The partnership, which has spanned over 25 years, has transported over 3,500 patients since Russia’s invasion in 2022. SAS crews operate alongside medical personnel from the Norwegian Armed Forces Medical Services in a partnership formalized with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency. The operation is conducted under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, with patients transported to hospitals across Europe. The renewal was announced by the Norwegian government and SAS CEO Anko van der Werff, who described the mission as having shaped SAS in a profound way.