SAS Group (, , ), Scandinavian Airlines System, is a company based in Stockholm, Sweden. The company is owned by SAS Danmark A/S, SAS Norge AS and SAS Sverige AB, those companies are owned by SAS AB. SAS Group owns several airlines in Europe.
SAS announced on June 13, 2007 that it will sell its shares in Spanair, Air Greenland and bmi. The group will also evaluate which parts of Airline Support Businesses it will continue to run, the evaluation will be done during the autumn 2007.[1]
The airline was founded on 1 August1946 when Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S, AB Aerotransport and Det Norske Luftfartselskap AS (the flag carriers of Denmark, Sweden and Norway) formed a partnership to handle intercontinental traffic to Scandinavia. Operations started on 17 September1946. The companies then started coordination of European 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
1918 Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S (DDL), SAS' Danish parent company, is founded
1924 AB Aerotransport (ABA), SAS' Swedish parent company, is founded
1927 Det Norske Luftfartselskap A/S (DNL), SAS' Norwegian 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 Stockholm - New York.
1951 DDL, DNL and ABA form the present SAS Consortium.
1954 SAS is the world's first airline to fly the Copenhagen - Los Angeles 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 Pole." North Pole Shortcut Copenhagen - Anchorage - Tokyo.
1959 SAS enters the jet age. The first jet aircraft, Caravelle, in service.
1960 SAS opens its first hotel, the SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen. SAS helped set up Thai Airways International, taking a 30% share in the joint venture.
1965 SAS is first to introduce and electronic reservation system.
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.
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.
1998 Air Botnia (Blue1) becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the SAS Group.
1999 The SAS Group becomes a majority owner of Widerøe
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.
Radisson SAS no longer managed by SAS
2003 Acquisition of 49% of the shares in Estonian Air.
2004 Incorporation of Scandinavian Airlines Sverige, SAS Braathens and Scandinavian Airlines Danmark.
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