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.
Radisson hotel in Oslo no longer managed by SAS as of 2009. (This picture was taken in May 2005.)
SAS Group Milestones
1918 AB Aerotransport (ABA), SAS' Swedish parent company, is founded.
1920 Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S (DDL), SAS' Danish 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 is from StockholmtoNew 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 regular scheduled service.
1955 SILA (which owns 50% of ABA) is quoted on the "Stockbrokers' List" in Sweden.
1987 SAS cofounds the Amadeus Computerised Reservation System (also known as GDS).
1989 SAS International Hotels owns 40% of Intercontinental Hotels Group. This stake is sold in 1992.
1994 SAS begins to refocus on airline operations in the SAS Group - selling a number of subsidiaries, along with the franchiseofDiners Club Nordic.
1996 SAS celebrates its 50th anniversary on August 1. SAS parent company changes its name to SAS Danmark A/S, SAS Norge ASA, and SAS Sverige AB.
1997 SAS is one of the founding members 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 signs a master franchise agreement with Carlson Hotels Worldwide; the agreement comes to an end in 2009.
2003 SAS acquires 49% of the shares in Estonian Air.
2004 Scandinavian Airlines Sverige, SAS Braathens, and Scandinavian Airlines Danmark are incorporated.
2014 SAS sells the cleaning part of SAS Ground Handling to Sodexo.
2015 SAS sells SAS Ground Handling in 14 Airports in Norway to Widerøe Ground Handling. SAS sells Blue1 to CityJet. In November Estonian Air collapses and SAS loses 2.5% of the shares.
2016 SAS sells its remaining 20% stake in Widerøe.
2020 SAS halts most of its traffic from 16 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
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, were delivered during the first half of 2010.[16]
On August 26, 2010, the SAS Group announced a 5-year lease agreement of 8 MD-90 series aircraft to an undisclosed US airline. The aircraft will be delivered between Q3-2010 and Q2-2011.
On April 10, 2018, the SAS Group announced a deal with Airbus for 35 new Airbus A320neos with another 15 being leased. These aircraft are meant to replace some of SAS's current A320s, as well as their Bombardier CRJ900's.[17] Bringing the total of the type to 80 aircraft.
The exhibits at the SAS Museum at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, in Norway, 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 Oslo's 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 Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian historic societies.