SAS’ MEDEVAC Boeing 737 Has Carried Over 2,000 In Need Of Critical Care Since Ukraine Invasion
Scandinavian Airlines System ( 
SAS
) has shared more details about its medical evacuation, also known as medevac, aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 that the airline will eventually phase out in favor of an Airbus A320neo in 2025.
The airline pointed out that the aircraft, which was reconfigured as a medevac jet in June 2022, has already transported over 2,000 critically ill and wounded patients from evacuation centers to hospitals in Europe.
Evacuating patients from Ukraine
In a post on LinkedIn, Anko van der Werff, the president and chief executive officer of SAS, shared that for more than 1,000 days since the war in Ukraine broke out, SAS has supported critical medical evacuations with its dedicated medevac aircraft.
The 737-700
, registered as LN-RPJ, was converted into a medevac aircraft in June 2022, planespotters.net data showed. The 737-700 is the only aircraft of the type in the airline’s fleet since it retired the 737-700 in November 2023.
“This effort is about so much more than flying – it’s about making a real difference. It reflects how aviation can connect and unite the world in times of crisis.”
Van der Werff detailed that in partnership with the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret) and the Forsvarets sanitet (FSAN), the medical services wing of the armed forces, the airline has always been ready to convert an aircraft into a flying hospital.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
The airline’s aircraft have been used after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated large coastal areas around the Indian Ocean in 2004, as well as in other events, such as evacuation missions from Afghanistan.
Most recently, SAS has deployed the 737-700 to pick up wounded soldiers and critically ill patients at the Polish border, namely the closest airport, Rzeszow Jasionka Airport (RZE). From there, the evacuated patients are taken to hospitals across Europe.
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Unique medevac operations
SAS’ CEO highlighted that the Scandinavian carrier might be the only airline in Europe and perhaps even the world that uses medevac
aircraft in this way. The 737-700 has 18 beds, 39 seats, and an intensive care unit (ICU) section.
“The purpose is much greater than just flying. This is about contribution to humanity, and this is about where flying could really help. In this case, Europe making sure that we are as safe as possible.”
Flightradar24 data showed that the 737-700 has been active as recently as December 11, when it operated four flights during the day. Its first flight was from Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) to Rzeszow, and from there, the aircraft flew to Paris Orly Airport (ORY), then to Leipzig Halle Airport (LEJ), and back to Oslo.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
In total, the 737-700 operated 12 flights in December, 12 in November, and 24 in October, Flightradar24 data showed.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Despite the Russians reportedly planning a three-day special military operation, a synonymous term for war coined by Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, the war has continued for over 1,000 days, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and innocent Ukrainians.
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Replacement in 2025
Nevertheless, on March 8, SAS and Forsvarets announced that the two signed a new agreement for medevac operations. The 737-700 will be replaced by an Airbus A320neo
in 2025, which will ensure that the airline can continue supporting time-critical medevac operations in the future.
According to Paul Verhagen, the chief commercial officer (CCO) of SAS, the new agreement was built on several years of joint assignments across the world. While the current aircraft – the 737-700 – has served both stakeholders well, it was time for the next-generation A320neo to step in, Verhagen added.
“Contributing to the safe transport of citizens across the world when crisis strikes is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we are grateful for the trust placed in us by the Norwegian Defense through this work.”
SAS noted that once the new interior design is finalized, an A320neo will be converted into a flying hospital that will be equipped with medical equipment and hospital beds and provide substantial environmental benefits compared to its current medevac aircraft.
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