A birthday party in mega format

The Saab compound in Linköping was turned into a gigantic party when about 20,000 employees and their families celebrated Saabs 70th anniversary. The day before around 700 customers, partners, suppliers, analysts and journalists started the celebrations.

This year it is exactly 70 years since Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, SAAB, was founded. A lot has happened since then and Saab has developed in many ways. This was shown during the customer day which took place at Saab’s facilities in Linköping, Sweden, on Friday August 31. Mr. Åke Svensson, President and CEO of Saab wished everyone a warm welcome.
“It is fantastic to have you here today. I am so proud of this company.”

In conjunction with the celebrations Saab Aerostructures had the pleasure to welcome customers and partners to a boat trip followed by a dinner.
“ Saab celebrates it’s 70th anniversary, and Saab Aerostructures celebrates 10 years on the Aerostructures market. We thought a dinner the evening before the big celebration was a perfect opportunity to share the anniversary with those of our customers and partners that could attend, said Pontus Kallén, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Saab Aerostructures.”

Well-attended family day

The customer day was followed by a family day for all Saab employees. Many employees had brought their family to listen to artists, enjoy a picnic and have a look at a Saab exhibition. For both younger and older guests the high point of the day was the major air display where representatives of all the generations of aircraft developed by Saab took part – everything from Saab B17 to the latest variant of Gripen. Former Chief test pilot Stig Holmström commentated on the display, and observed that there could not be too many manufacturers in the world that have as many of their old aircraft in airworthy condition.

Back to CNB 4/2007