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Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) has claimed to be the first European carrier to commence transatlantic green flights.

The operator recently concluded Europe's first commercial transatlantic 'green approach' trial.

Using an Airbus A330, the airline landed a flight from New York's Newark airport to Stockholm Arlanda using a continuous descent approach landing technique.

This method is estimated to save approximately 150kg of aircraft fuel and 470kg of carbon dioxide on a transatlantic flight.

SAS said that it would continue to use off-peak transatlantic flights to test green approaches, which reportedly feel the same as ordinary landings for passengers and pilots.

Sigmund Lockert, one of the airline's first officers, said: 'The approach carried out at Arlanda today was in fact very easy for us pilots…The aircraft's flight management system was automatically flying the whole approach routing and the passengers conceived the approach as nothing but smooth and quiet.'

SAS chief executive Lars Sandahl Sorensen added: 'This is a big step for the aviation industry, and Scandinavian Airlines is proud to once again lead the way when it comes to environmental issues.'

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