Alex Young

Scandinavian Airlines (commonly known as SAS) is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden， headquartered in Solna, Sweden.

In August 1946, Flag carriers of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden cooperated to operate intercontinental routes to northern Europe, which is believed as a precursor to the SAS.

 

In 1954, SAS became the first Airline in the world to operate scheduled flights on the polar route.

SAS was one of the pioneers of the jet age.

 

In 1959, the first SAS jet entered its service, and the company's first Boeing 747 also joined its service in 1971.

 

Throughout the 1980s, SAS acquired shares from several airlines to form its global airline alliance, but the plan never materialized.

 

In May 1997, SAS became a founding member of Star Alliance and started its cooperation with United, Lufthansa, Thai Airways, and Air Canada.

 

During the early 2000s, as budget airlines expanded rapidly in Europe, SAS was at a disadvantage to the competition and began to experience severe financial difficulties. The company was forced to sell its share in other airlines and has implemented strict cost-cutting policies.

 

The problematic situation has also led to several changes in the ownership structure within SAS. The company was split into four parts in 2004 but merged into SAS Scandinavian System AB in 2009.

 

The European Commission approved aid measures for SAS in July 2021, but the policies didn't work well. As a result, the Norwegian government refused to become a long-term shareholder in SAS.

 

In July 2022, The Airline filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States, And it has yet to be released. Nevertheless, SAS is still the major airlines in the Nordic region.