Which airline operated the first scheduled transpolar passenger flight in 1954?

Scandinavian Airlines operated the first scheduled transpolar passenger flight in 1954.

The route connected Copenhagen and Los Angeles over the North Pole, using a Douglas DC-6B. The service was a major navigational achievement because it shortened travel between Europe and the U.S. West Coast compared with routes through the Atlantic and North America.

SAS had already gained experience with Arctic flying. Its engineers and crews worked on navigation, weather planning and emergency procedures for the extreme northern environment, where magnetic compasses could become less useful and diversion airports were scarce.

The transpolar route also strengthened Scandinavian Airlines’ international identity. Today, polar routes are common for many long-haul flights, aided by satellite navigation, improved weather forecasting, reliable twin-engine aircraft and a wider network of suitable diversion airports.