SAS Group - History

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 partnership to handle intercontinental traffic to Scandinavia. Operations started on 17 September 1946. 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
• 1920 DDL is listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange
• 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 an electronic reservation system.
• 1967 DNL is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
• 1971 SAS puts its first Boeing 747 jumbo jet into service.
• 1977 SAS sold its remaining stakes in Thai
• 1980 SAS opens its first hotel outside of Scandinavia, the SAS Kuwait Hotel. SILA is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange
• 1981 SAS EuroClass is introduced on all European routes.
• 1982 SAS is the most punctual airline in Europe for the first time.
• 1984 SAS receives Air Transport World's distinction "Airline of the Year" for 1983.
• 1986 Spanair is founded.
• 1987 Co-founder of Amadeus Computerised Reservation System (also known as GDS).
• 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 franchise of Diners Club 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 Alliance.
• 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.

• 2003 Acquisition of 49% of the shares in Estonian Air.
• 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 Academy.