I did the CPH-JNB segment (in a DC10 I believe) around Aug/Sep in 1985 and the route was chopped very soon after that. SAS had a Swedish woman in charge of the Ground Handling at Jan Smuts International Airport.

Never got to fly back to CPH on SK metal after that and came back to Europe on home leave in 1987 on other carriers via ZRH, FRA, LIS, ROM etc...

My mother was a SAS airhostess in the late 60's to the mid 70's (the light blue uniforms with big gold buttons and the little felt hat with the SAS wings) and have told me that in those days being a CC was the high life, but hard work. It was not unusual to have 5 days stop over in Los Angeles or Anchorage and only working the LAX-ANC segment for a week or so... Strange to hear her talk about SAS with enthusiasm when we know what it's like these days. I guess the unions have done what they could to bring the airline down (IMHO)...

Will try and get more info out of her and post it here...