SAS Group
Encyclopedia
Scandinavian Airlines System Aktiebolag , trading as SAS Group and SAS AB, is a holding company
based in Solna
, Sweden
. It is the parent company of the airlines Scandinavian Airlines, Blue1 and Widerøe
, and the aviation services companies SAS Business Opportunities
, SAS Cargo Group
, SAS Ground Services
and SAS Technical Services
. It holds minority ownership of Air Greenland
, Estonian Air
, Skyways Express
and Spanair
. The SAS Group is partially owned by the governments of Sweden, Denmark and Norway, with a 21.4%, 14.3% and 14.3% ownership, respectively. The remaining 50% are held by private owners, of which Foundation Asset Management at 7.6% is the only significant. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange
, the Stockholm Stock Exchange
and the Copenhagen Stock Exchange
.
The conglomerate was founded in 1951 as a merger between the three Scandinavian flag carriers Aerotransport (ABA), Det Danske Luftfartselskab
(DDL) and Det Norske Luftfartselskap
(DNL), after the three had been cooperating on international routes since 1946. Until 2001, the three national companies owned a fixed share of the SAS Group, after which the shares of the three companies were merged. The SAS Group previously has owned the Rezidor Hotel Group and Braathens
and has had minority ownership of bmi
, airBaltic
, Thai Airways International
and Lan Airlines
. SAS was a founder of the Amadeus Computerised Reservation System
and the Star Alliance
, where several of the group's airlines are members. SAS runs the frequent flyer program EuroBonus
.
Core SAS
Scandinavian Airlines Widerøe
(100%) Blue1 (100%)
SAS Individual Holdings Air Greenland
(37.5%) Stake to be divested Estonian Air
(10%) Spanair
(19.9%)
to handle intercontinental traffic to Scandinavia
. Operations started on 17 September 1946. The companies then started coordination of Europe
an operations in 1948 and finally merged to form the current SAS Consortium in 1951. When established the airline was divided between SAS Danmark (28.6%), SAS Norge (28.6%) and SAS Sweden (42.8%), all owned 50% by private investors and 50% by their respective governments. SAS gradually acquired control of the domestic markets in all three countries by acquiring full or partial control of several local airlines. In May 1997 SAS formed the global Star Alliance
network with Air Canada
, Lufthansa
, Thai Airways International
and United Airlines
.
SAS Group Milestones
On January 4, 2010 the SAS Group announced the sales of 18 surplus MD-80 series aircraft to Allegiant Travel Company
. The aircraft, built from 1985 to 1991, will be delivered during the first half of 2010.
On August 26, 2010 the SAS Group announced a 5-year lease agreement of 8 MD-90 series aircraft to a undisclosed US airline. The aircraft will be delivered between Q3-2010 and Q2-2011.
represent an important part of Scandinavian civil aviation history. The museum collections cover Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) as well as its parent companies: AB Aerotransport (ABA), Det Danske Luftfartselskab (DDL) and Det Norske Luftfartselskap (DNL). A museum was originally established in 1989 in the hangar area at Oslo Airport, Fornebu
at the same time as the formation of the DNL/SAS Historic Society. It was built up through the efforts of a group of enthusiasts among retired and active SAS employees. The establishment of the new museum in 2003/2004 is a result of SAS feeling a responsibility to document the history of Scandinavian civil aviation. For this purpose, the airline has entered a partnership with its three national historic societies and the latter undertake the day-to-day work on a volunteer basis. SAS absorbs the rental cost of the museum building and has also provided depots for museum exhibits in Denmark and Sweden. The museum at Gardermoen is therefore more than just a continuation of the facility at Fornebu – it is a completely new and considerably expanded Scandinavian museum. It is run by a board that includes representatives of the SAS consortium and the historic societies.
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
based in Solna
Solna Municipality
Solna Municipality is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden, located just north of the capital Stockholm. Its seat is located in the 'city' of Solna....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. It is the parent company of the airlines Scandinavian Airlines, Blue1 and Widerøe
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
, and the aviation services companies SAS Business Opportunities
SAS Business Opportunities
SAS Business Opportunities is owned by the SAS Group and comprises five business areas formerly part of Scandinavian Airlines; SAS Flightshop, onboard sales of goods,Fly&Stay, package tours, Marketing Partnerships, media sales...
, SAS Cargo Group
SAS Cargo Group
SAS Cargo Group Is SAS Scandinavian Airlines's cargo subsidiary and manages the cargo capacities of Scandinavian Airlines, Spanair and Blue1....
, SAS Ground Services
SAS Ground Services
SAS Ground Handling is Europe's third largest full-service provider of aircraft ground handling and airport related services. SAS Ground Handling is the largest ground handling company in Scandinavia....
and SAS Technical Services
SAS Technical Services
SAS Technical Services has changed name to SAS Tech. The company is owned by the SAS Group and provides technical maintenance of aircraft to airlines in and outside the SAS Group. The company is one of the world's 15 biggest providers of technical aircraft maintenance and the tenth biggest...
. It holds minority ownership of Air Greenland
Air Greenland
Air Greenland A/S is the flag carrier airline of Greenland, jointly owned by the government of Greenland, the SAS Group, and the government of Denmark...
, Estonian Air
Estonian Air
AS Estonian Air is Estonia's national carrier, owned by the Estonian state. The airline is based in Tallinn, Estonia. It is a regional airline feeding into the Scandinavian Airlines System network via Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen from Estonia....
, Skyways Express
Skyways Express
Skyways is an airline that operates regional and domestic scheduled services. Based in Linköping, Sweden, its main hub is at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.- History :...
and Spanair
Spanair
Spanair is a Spanish airline, with its head office in the Spanair Building in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona. It was, until 2009, a subsidiary of Scandinavian Airlines, which now holds slightly under 20% of the company. Spanair provides a scheduled passenger network within Spain and...
. The SAS Group is partially owned by the governments of Sweden, Denmark and Norway, with a 21.4%, 14.3% and 14.3% ownership, respectively. The remaining 50% are held by private owners, of which Foundation Asset Management at 7.6% is the only significant. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange
Oslo Stock Exchange
The Oslo Stock Exchange serves as the main market for trading in the shares of Norwegian companies. It opens at 9:00am and closes 5:30pm local time...
, the Stockholm Stock Exchange
Stockholm Stock Exchange
The Stockholm Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded in 1863 it is the primary securities exchange of the Nordic Countries....
and the Copenhagen Stock Exchange
Copenhagen Stock Exchange
The Copenhagen Stock Exchange or CSE is an international marketplace for Danish securities, including shares, bonds, treasury bills and notes, and financial futures and options...
.
The conglomerate was founded in 1951 as a merger between the three Scandinavian flag carriers Aerotransport (ABA), Det Danske Luftfartselskab
Det Danske Luftfartselskab
Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S, or DDL, was Denmark's flag carrier airline since 1918, and is the oldest airline still in existence...
(DDL) and Det Norske Luftfartselskap
Det Norske Luftfartselskap
Det Norske Luftfartselskap A/S or DNL, trading internationally as Norwegian Air Lines, was an airline and flag carrier of Norway. Founded in 1927, it operated domestic and international routes from 1935 to 1941 and from 1946 to 1951...
(DNL), after the three had been cooperating on international routes since 1946. Until 2001, the three national companies owned a fixed share of the SAS Group, after which the shares of the three companies were merged. The SAS Group previously has owned the Rezidor Hotel Group and Braathens
Braathens
Braathens ASA, until 1997 Braathens South American & Far East Airtransport A/S and trading as Braathens SAFE, is a former Norwegian airline that operated from 1946 until it merged with Scandinavian Airlines Norway to become SAS Braathens in 2004. The airline was based in Oslo, first at Fornebu,...
and has had minority ownership of bmi
Bmi (airline)
British Midland Airways Limited , is an airline based at Donington Hall in Castle Donington in the United Kingdom, close to East Midlands Airport, and a fully owned subsidiary of Lufthansa...
, airBaltic
AirBaltic
A/S Air Baltic Corporation, operating as AirBaltic and styled as airBaltic, is the Latvian flag carrier airline and a low-cost carrier, with its head office on the grounds of Riga International Airport in Mārupe municipality, near the capital, Riga...
, Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is the national flag carrier and largest airline of Thailand. Formed in 1988, the airline's headquarters are located in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, and operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Thai is a...
and Lan Airlines
LAN Airlines
LAN Airlines S.A. is an airline based in Santiago, Chile. LAN is currently positioned amongst the largest airlines in Latin America, serving Latin America, United States, the Caribbean, Oceania, and Europe. It is a member of the Oneworld airline alliance...
. SAS was a founder of the Amadeus Computerised Reservation System
Amadeus CRS
Amadeus is a computer reservations system owned by the Amadeus IT Group with headquarters in Madrid, Spain. The central database is located at Erding, Germany. The development center is located at Sophia Antipolis, France...
and the Star Alliance
Star Alliance
Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines...
, where several of the group's airlines are members. SAS runs the frequent flyer program EuroBonus
EuroBonus
EuroBonus is the frequent flyer program of four European airlines of SAS Group. It was launched by Scandinavian Airlines System in 1992.-SAS Group - EuroBonus:* Blue1 * Scandinavian Airlines System * Widerøe...
.
Operations
SAS Group is the main operational company in the SAS consortium. From April 2009 the SAS Group company structure look as follows:Core SAS
Scandinavian Airlines WiderøeWiderøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
(100%) Blue1 (100%)
- SAS Cargo GroupSAS Cargo GroupSAS Cargo Group Is SAS Scandinavian Airlines's cargo subsidiary and manages the cargo capacities of Scandinavian Airlines, Spanair and Blue1....
(100%) - SAS Ground Handling (100%)
- SAS Technical ServicesSAS Technical ServicesSAS Technical Services has changed name to SAS Tech. The company is owned by the SAS Group and provides technical maintenance of aircraft to airlines in and outside the SAS Group. The company is one of the world's 15 biggest providers of technical aircraft maintenance and the tenth biggest...
(100%)
SAS Individual Holdings Air Greenland
Air Greenland
Air Greenland A/S is the flag carrier airline of Greenland, jointly owned by the government of Greenland, the SAS Group, and the government of Denmark...
(37.5%) Stake to be divested Estonian Air
Estonian Air
AS Estonian Air is Estonia's national carrier, owned by the Estonian state. The airline is based in Tallinn, Estonia. It is a regional airline feeding into the Scandinavian Airlines System network via Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen from Estonia....
(10%) Spanair
Spanair
Spanair is a Spanish airline, with its head office in the Spanair Building in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona. It was, until 2009, a subsidiary of Scandinavian Airlines, which now holds slightly under 20% of the company. Spanair provides a scheduled passenger network within Spain and...
(19.9%)
Partners and alliances
- Scandinavian Airlines, bmiBmi (airline)British Midland Airways Limited , is an airline based at Donington Hall in Castle Donington in the United Kingdom, close to East Midlands Airport, and a fully owned subsidiary of Lufthansa...
, Blue1 and SpanairSpanairSpanair is a Spanish airline, with its head office in the Spanair Building in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona. It was, until 2009, a subsidiary of Scandinavian Airlines, which now holds slightly under 20% of the company. Spanair provides a scheduled passenger network within Spain and...
are members of the Star AllianceStar AllianceStar Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines...
. - SAS Cargo GroupSAS Cargo GroupSAS Cargo Group Is SAS Scandinavian Airlines's cargo subsidiary and manages the cargo capacities of Scandinavian Airlines, Spanair and Blue1....
is a member of the WOW AllianceWOW AllianceWOW Cargo Alliance is a global cargo alliance between SAS Cargo Group and Singapore Airlines Cargo.WOW is the world's second largest Cargo alliance consisting of only 2 Members and is currently competing with the only other Cargo alliance, SkyTeam Cargo.... - WiderøeWiderøeWiderøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
, Skyways ExpressSkyways ExpressSkyways is an airline that operates regional and domestic scheduled services. Based in Linköping, Sweden, its main hub is at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.- History :...
, Blue1 and Estonian AirEstonian AirAS Estonian Air is Estonia's national carrier, owned by the Estonian state. The airline is based in Tallinn, Estonia. It is a regional airline feeding into the Scandinavian Airlines System network via Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen from Estonia....
are well connected with SAS
List of major shareholders
| Shareholder | Type of shareholder | Nationality | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Swedish Government Government of Sweden The Government of the Kingdom of Sweden is the supreme executive authority of Sweden. It consists of the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers appointed by the Prime Minister. The Government is responsible for their actions to the Riksdag, which is the legislative assembly... |
Government Government Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized... |
Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
21.4% |
| The Danish Government Government of Denmark Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with a representative democracy based on a unicameral parliamentary system. The affairs of Government are decided by a Cabinet of Ministers, which is led by a Prime Minister... |
Government |  DenmarkDenmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... |
14.3% |
| The Norwegian Government | Government | Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... |
14.3% |
| FAM Foundation Asset Management AB Foundation Asset Management AB is a Swedish foundation asset management company, founded by the three largest Wallenberg foundations in order to manage the assets of the foundations, by means of direct ownership as well as through management- and consultancy agreements... |
Foundations | Sweden |
7.6% |
| State of New Jersey Pension Fund | Pension fund Pension fund A pension fund is any plan, fund, or scheme which provides retirement income.Pension funds are important shareholders of listed and private companies. They are especially important to the stock market where large institutional investors dominate. The largest 300 pension funds collectively hold... |
 United StatesUnited States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2.1% |
| Danmarks Nationalbank Danmarks Nationalbank Danmarks Nationalbank is the central bank of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is a non-eurozone member of the European System of Central Banks . The bank issues the Danish currency, the krone.... |
Bank Bank A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:... |
Denmark |
1.4% |
| Unionen Unionen Unionen is a Swedish white-collar trade union, formed by HTF and Sif on 1 January 2008. Unionen is the second biggest trade union in Sweden and the biggest white-collar union in the world.... |
Labour union | Sweden |
1.4% |
| Fjärde AP-fonden (The Fourth AP Fund) | Pension fund | Sweden |
1.1% |
| Första AP-fonden (The First AP Fund) | Pension fund | Sweden |
0.9% |
| Six Sis AG | Financial services Financial services Financial services refer to services provided by the finance industry. The finance industry encompasses a broad range of organizations that deal with the management of money. Among these organizations are credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, consumer finance companies,... |
 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
0.9% |
| Andra AP-fonden (The Second AP Fund) | Pension fund | Sweden |
0.8% |
| Other shareholders | 32.8% | ||
| Source: | |||
History
The airline was founded on 1 August 1946 when Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S, AB Aerotransport and Det Norske Luftfartselskap AS (the flag carriers of Denmark, Sweden and Norway) formed a partnershipBusiness alliance
A business alliance is an agreement between businesses, usually motivated by cost reduction and improved service for the customer. Alliances are often bounded by a single agreement with equitable risk and opportunity share for all parties involved and are typically managed by an integrated project...
to handle intercontinental traffic to Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. Operations started on 17 September 1946. The companies then started coordination of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an operations in 1948 and finally merged to form the current SAS Consortium in 1951. When established the airline was divided between SAS Danmark (28.6%), SAS Norge (28.6%) and SAS Sweden (42.8%), all owned 50% by private investors and 50% by their respective governments. SAS gradually acquired control of the domestic markets in all three countries by acquiring full or partial control of several local airlines. In May 1997 SAS formed the global Star Alliance
Star Alliance
Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines...
network with Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
, Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
, Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is the national flag carrier and largest airline of Thailand. Formed in 1988, the airline's headquarters are located in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, and operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Thai is a...
and United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
.
SAS Group Milestones
- 1918 Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S (DDL), SAS' Danish parent company, is founded
- 1920 DDL is listed on the Copenhagen Stock ExchangeCopenhagen Stock ExchangeThe Copenhagen Stock Exchange or CSE is an international marketplace for Danish securities, including shares, bonds, treasury bills and notes, and financial futures and options...
- 1924 AB Aerotransport (ABA), SAS' SwedishSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
parent company, is founded - 1927 Det Norske Luftfartselskap A/S (DNL), SAS' NorwegianNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
parent company is founded - 1946 SAS is formed from Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S (DDL), Det Norske Luftfartselskap A/S (DNL) and Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik AB (SILA). The first intercontinental flight StockholmStockholmStockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
- New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. - 1951 DDL, DNL and ABA form the present SAS Consortium.
- 1954 SAS is the world's first airline to fly the CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
- Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
polar route in scheduled services. - 1955 SILA (which owned 50% of ABA) was quoted on the "Stockbrokers' List" in Sweden.
- 1957 SAS is the first airline to offer "round the world service over the North PoleNorth PoleThe North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
." North Pole Shortcut CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
- AnchorageAnchorage, AlaskaAnchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
- TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. - 1959 SAS enters the jet age. The first jet aircraft, CaravelleSud Aviation CaravelleThe Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airliner produced by the French Sud Aviation firm starting in 1955 . The Caravelle was one of the more successful European first generation jetliners, selling throughout Europe and even penetrating the United States market, with...
, in service. - 1960 SAS opens its first hotel, the SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen. SAS helped set up Thai Airways InternationalThai Airways InternationalThai Airways International Public Company Limited is the national flag carrier and largest airline of Thailand. Formed in 1988, the airline's headquarters are located in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, and operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Thai is a...
, taking a 30% share in the joint venture. - 1965 SAS is first to introduce an electronic reservation system.
- 1967 DNL is listed on the Oslo Stock ExchangeOslo Stock ExchangeThe Oslo Stock Exchange serves as the main market for trading in the shares of Norwegian companies. It opens at 9:00am and closes 5:30pm local time...
. - 1971 SAS puts its first Boeing 747Boeing 747The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
jumbo jet into service. - 1977 SAS sold its remaining stakes in Thai
- 1980 SAS opens its first hotel outside of ScandinaviaScandinaviaScandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, the SAS KuwaitKuwaitThe State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
Hotel. SILA is listed on the Stockholm Stock ExchangeStockholm Stock ExchangeThe Stockholm Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded in 1863 it is the primary securities exchange of the Nordic Countries.... - 1981 SAS EuroClass is introduced on all EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an routes. - 1982 SAS is the most punctual airlineAirlineAn airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
in EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for the first time. - 1984 SAS receives Air Transport World's distinction "Airline of the Year" for 1983.
- 1986 SpanairSpanairSpanair is a Spanish airline, with its head office in the Spanair Building in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona. It was, until 2009, a subsidiary of Scandinavian Airlines, which now holds slightly under 20% of the company. Spanair provides a scheduled passenger network within Spain and...
is founded. - 1987 Co-founder of AmadeusAmadeus CRSAmadeus is a computer reservations system owned by the Amadeus IT Group with headquarters in Madrid, Spain. The central database is located at Erding, Germany. The development center is located at Sophia Antipolis, France...
Computerised Reservation System (also known as GDSGDS-Medicine:* Geriatric Depression Scale, a simple, self-administered assessment of depression among the elderly.* Global Deterioration Scale, a standardized system of evaluating the progression of dementia, specifically in Alzheimer's Disease.-Schools:...
). - 1989 SAS International Hotels owns 40% of Intercontinental Hotels Group. This stake sold in 1992.
- 1994 Focus on airline operations in the SAS Group - sale of a number subsidiaries, among with the franchiseFranchisingFranchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
of Diners ClubDiners ClubDiners Club International, founded as Diners Club, is a charge card company formed in 1950 by Frank X. McNamara, Ralph Schneider and Matty Simmons...
Nordic. - 1996 SAS celebrates its 50th anniversary on August 1. Harmonization and name change of SAS parent company to SAS Danmark A/S, SAS Norge ASA and SAS Sverige AB.
- 1997 SAS is one of the founders of Star AllianceStar AllianceStar Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines...
. - 1998 Air Botnia (Blue1) becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the SAS Group.
- 1999 The SAS Group becomes a majority owner of WiderøeWiderøeWiderøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
- 2001 A single SAS share is established. On July 6, SAS is listed on the stock exchanges in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. Braathens is acquired by the SAS Group in December.
- 2002 Rezidor SAS Hospitality signed a master franchise agreement with Carlson Hotels Worldwide.
- 2003 Acquisition of 49% of the shares in Estonian AirEstonian AirAS Estonian Air is Estonia's national carrier, owned by the Estonian state. The airline is based in Tallinn, Estonia. It is a regional airline feeding into the Scandinavian Airlines System network via Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen from Estonia....
. - 2004 Incorporation of Scandinavian Airlines Sverige, SAS Braathens and Scandinavian Airlines Danmark.
- 2006 SAS sold its remaining shares in the Hotel chain, Rezidor Hotel Group.
- 2007 New CEO and President Mats Jansson, SAS sold SAS Flight AcademySAS Flight AcademyThe former SAS Flight Academy, owned by the STAR Capital Partners has been merged with Oxford Aviation Academy Ltd. and they provide a variety of training services for airlines and air crew, ranging from total training packages to straightforward selling of simulator time. Training facilities are...
.
Presidents
- 1946 - 1948 Per A. Norlin
- 1949 - 1951 Per M. Backe
- 1951 - 1954 Per A. Norlin
- 1955 - 1957 Henning Throne-Holst
- 1958 - 1961 Åke RusckÅke RusckÅke Rusck was a Swedish businessman.He was CEO of Sweden's major state hydro power company Vattenfall between 1948 and 1957 and then CEO of the SAS Group from 1958-1961....
- 1961 - 1962 Curt Nicolin
- 1962 - 1969 Karl Nilsson
- 1969 - 1978 Knut Hagrup
- 1978 - 1981 Carl-Olov Munkberg
- 1981 - 1993 Jan CarlzonJan CarlzonJan Carlzon is a Swedish businessman. He is most noted for being Chief Executive Officer of SAS Group from 1981 - 1994.Jan Carlzon graduated with an MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics in 1967 and immediately started his career in the international hospitality industry at Vingresor. He rose...
- 1993 - 1994 Jan ReinåsJan ReinåsJan Audun Reinås was a Norwegian businessperson.-Early career:Reinås was educated in business administration through the Norwegian State Railways. He first worked for the bus and ferry company Fosen Trafikklag, before taking over as chief financial officer of Trondheim Trafikkselskap , the bus and...
- 1994 - 2001 Jan StenbergJan StenbergJan Stenberg is a Swedish businessperson and current Chairman of the Board of Stepstone, Cygate Måldata, Service Factory, Marratech, Spring Mobil, Q-matic and Tific....
- 2001 - 2006 Jørgen Lindegaard
- 2007 - 2010 Mats JanssonMats JanssonMats Jansson is a Swedish businessperson. He was Chief Executive Officer of SAS Group from 2007 to 2010. -Biography:...
Financial performance
| Year ended | Passengers flown | Employees (Average/Year) | Net profit/loss (SEK) | Basic eps Earnings per share Earnings per share is the amount of earnings per each outstanding share of a company's stock.In the United States, the Financial Accounting Standards Board requires companies' income statements to report EPS for each of the major categories of the income statement: continuing operations,... (SEK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 25,200,000 | 14,801 | -2,218,000,000 | -7.79 |
| 2009 | 24,900,000 | 18,786 | -2,947,000,000 | -18.20 |
| 2008 | 29,000,000 | 24,635 | -6,360,000,000 | -6.29 |
| 2007 | 29,200,000 | 26,538 | 1,234,000,000 | 3.87 |
| 2006 | 38,609,000 | 26,554 | 4,936,000,000 | 28.10 |
| 2005 | 36,312,000 | 32,363 | 418,000,000 | 1.06 |
| 2004 | 32,400,000 | 32,481 | -1,813,000,000 | -11.38 |
| 2003 | 31,004,000 | 34,544 | -2,221,000,000 | -8.60 |
| 2002 | 33,254,000 | 35,506 | -736,000,000 | -0.81 |
| 2001 | 35,640,000 | 31,035 | -1,140,000,000 | -6.58 |
| 2000* | 23,240,000 | 30,939 | 2,273,000,000 | 11.79 |
| 1999* | 21,991,000 | 30,310 | 1,846,000,000 | 8.41 |
- Before 2001 the SAS Group traffic figures did not include airBaltic, Blue1 and Spanair.
Fleet
The SAS Group fleet consists of the following aircraft as of June 5, 2011:| Type | SAS | Blue1 | Widerøe | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319-100 | 4 | 4 | OY-KBO in retro c/s | ||
| Airbus A321-200 | 8 | 8 | |||
| Airbus A330-300 Airbus A330 The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo.... |
4 | 4 | |||
| Airbus A340-300 Airbus A340 The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engine wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium of European aerospace companies, which is... |
6 | 6 | |||
| Boeing 717-200 Boeing 717 The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of... |
9 | 9 | |||
| Boeing 737-400 Boeing 737 The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers... |
3 | 3 | |||
| Boeing 737-500 Boeing 737 The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers... |
7 | 7 | |||
| Boeing 737-600 Boeing 737 The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers... |
28 | 28 | |||
| Boeing 737-700 Boeing 737 The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers... |
19 | 19 | |||
| Boeing 737-800 Boeing 737 The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers... |
20 | 20 | |||
| McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | 23 | 23 | to be phased out | ||
| McDonnell Douglas MD-87 | 3 | 3 | to be phased out | ||
| Avro RJ85 BAe 146 The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992... |
5 | 5 | to be phased out | ||
| Bombardier CRJ900 | 12 | 12 | |||
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q100 | 19 | 19 | |||
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 | 8 | 8 | |||
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 NextGen | 7 | 7 | |||
| Total | 137 | 14 | 34 | 174 |
On January 4, 2010 the SAS Group announced the sales of 18 surplus MD-80 series aircraft to Allegiant Travel Company
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air is an American low-cost airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that operates scheduled and charter flights. Allegiant Travel Company is a publicly traded company with 1,300 employees and one billion USD market capitalization...
. The aircraft, built from 1985 to 1991, will be delivered during the first half of 2010.
On August 26, 2010 the SAS Group announced a 5-year lease agreement of 8 MD-90 series aircraft to a undisclosed US airline. The aircraft will be delivered between Q3-2010 and Q2-2011.
SAS Museum
The exhibits at the SAS Museum at Oslo Airport, GardermoenOslo Airport, Gardermoen
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen is the principal airport serving Oslo, Norway. It acts as the main domestic hub and international airport for Norway, and the second-busiest airport in the Nordic countries. A hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle, and a focus city for Widerøe, it is...
represent an important part of Scandinavian civil aviation history. The museum collections cover Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) as well as its parent companies: AB Aerotransport (ABA), Det Danske Luftfartselskab (DDL) and Det Norske Luftfartselskap (DNL). A museum was originally established in 1989 in the hangar area at Oslo Airport, Fornebu
Oslo Airport, Fornebu
Oslo Airport, Fornebu was the main airport serving Oslo and Eastern Norway from 1 June 1939 to 7 October 1998. It was then replaced by Oslo Airport, Gardermoen and the area has since been redeveloped. The airport was located at Fornebu in Bærum, from the city center. Fornebu had two runways, one...
at the same time as the formation of the DNL/SAS Historic Society. It was built up through the efforts of a group of enthusiasts among retired and active SAS employees. The establishment of the new museum in 2003/2004 is a result of SAS feeling a responsibility to document the history of Scandinavian civil aviation. For this purpose, the airline has entered a partnership with its three national historic societies and the latter undertake the day-to-day work on a volunteer basis. SAS absorbs the rental cost of the museum building and has also provided depots for museum exhibits in Denmark and Sweden. The museum at Gardermoen is therefore more than just a continuation of the facility at Fornebu – it is a completely new and considerably expanded Scandinavian museum. It is run by a board that includes representatives of the SAS consortium and the historic societies.