SAS Braathens

SAS Braathens was the Norwegian operating airline created through the combination of Scandinavian Airlines' Norwegian division and Braathens. It emerged in 2004 after SAS had acquired Braathens, which had previously operated as an independent Norwegian carrier under the name Braathens. The new airline combined the domestic network and operating resources of the two businesses while remaining wholly owned by the SAS Group. The airline was based at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, which served as its principal hub, while its administrative headquarters were located at the Diamanten building at the former Fornebu Airport site in Fornebu, Bærum. Its core business was scheduled passenger transportation within Norway and between Norway and European destinations. The network extended from Longyearbyen in Svalbard to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands and included domestic Norwegian routes, intra-Scandinavian services, and wider European connections. By June 2007, the published network comprised 46 destinations, including 17 domestic and 29 European destinations. SAS Braathens was one of Norway's largest airlines. Reference material describes an operation of approximately 440 daily departures and around 3,750 employees. In 2006, it carried approximately nine million passengers. The airline operated a fleet centered on Boeing 737 aircraft, supplemented by Fokker 50 turboprops; the described fleet consisted of 51 Boeing 737s and six Fokker 50s. Although flights used the IATA operating code BU, tickets and airport displays generally presented the services under SAS's SK code. Through its parent, SAS Braathens participated in the Star Alliance network and used the EuroBonus frequent-flyer program. The carrier offered differentiated onboard products. Domestic services generally operated with a single cabin, while certain Scandinavian and European routes offered Economy Extra and Business products. The airline also introduced the CloudShop buy-on-board concept for selected food and beverage purchases in economy class. Business and higher-tier products could include airport fast-track access, lounge access, meals, newspapers, and other service benefits, depending on route length and market. The airline experienced significant labor and reliability problems during its short independent operating period. In early 2006, disputes involving cabin personnel and management culminated in a strike that grounded most flights between 6 and 8 April. Pilot illness and other operational disruption also caused cancellations. These problems damaged consumer confidence and benefited low-cost competitor Norwegian Air Shuttle. In June 2006, chief executive Petter Jansen left after disagreements with SAS management in Stockholm, an event that generated considerable debate in Norway because SAS Braathens was reported to be the only profitable national branch of Scandinavian Airlines at the time. SAS ended the separate SAS Braathens identity on 1 June 2007. The airline was integrated into the SAS mainline operation and renamed SAS Scandinavian Airlines Norge. This made SAS Braathens a historical airline brand rather than a continuing standalone carrier.

SAS Braathens grew out of two strands of Norwegian aviation history. Braathens was founded on 26 March 1946 by Norwegian shipowner Ludvig G. Braathen. Its original name, Braathens S.A.F.E., referred to the South American and Far East destinations the company initially intended to serve in connection with Braathen's shipping interests. Over time, the airline became an important Norwegian domestic carrier and was later known simply as Braathens. The other predecessor was SAS Norway, the Norwegian part of Scandinavian Airlines. Scandinavian Airlines originated in 1946 as a cooperative arrangement among the flag carriers of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Intercontinental operations began in September 1946, European activities were coordinated more closely from 1948, and the current SAS consortium structure was established in 1951. SAS subsequently expanded its control over the Scandinavian domestic markets through ownership interests and acquisitions involving local airlines. Braathens entered a strategic alliance with KLM and Northwest Airlines in 2001, although a planned participation by Alitalia did not materialize. The same year, following difficult economic conditions, Braathens was acquired by the SAS Group. It retained its own name and operating identity for a period after the acquisition, but SAS and Braathens were ultimately combined into a new Norwegian airline operation. SAS Braathens was established in the spring of 2004 and became operational under that name in April 2005 according to the reference material, although the merger itself dates from 2004. The resulting airline was wholly owned by the SAS Group. It used Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, as its principal hub and maintained administrative offices at Diamanten on the former Fornebu Airport grounds in Fornebu, Bærum. The carrier was intended to consolidate SAS's Norwegian activities with Braathens' domestic market presence and to provide a single large Norwegian network under the SAS corporate umbrella. It operated scheduled routes throughout Norway and to European destinations, with a network extending from Longyearbyen in the north to Las Palmas in the south. By June 2007, the network listed 46 destinations, comprising 17 domestic and 29 European points. At its peak, SAS Braathens was described as Norway's largest airline, with approximately 440 departures per day and around 3,750 employees. It carried about nine million passengers in 2006. The fleet consisted principally of Boeing 737 aircraft, with Fokker 50 turboprops also used on appropriate routes. The airline's flights operated with the BU code, but commercial sales and airport presentation generally used SAS's SK code. Its relationship with the wider SAS system also gave it access to the Star Alliance network and the EuroBonus loyalty program. The carrier offered different service levels by market. Domestic operations generally used a single cabin, while Scandinavian and European routes could include Economy Extra and Business products. Catering varied by route and cabin. Economy customers could purchase selected food and beverages through the CloudShop buy-on-board concept, while premium passengers could receive meals, lounge access, airport fast-track privileges, newspapers, and other amenities on qualifying services. The airline's development was undermined by industrial conflict and operational reliability problems. In the first months of 2006, pilot illness contributed to cancellations. On 6 April, negotiations between cabin staff and management broke down, producing a strike that grounded most flights until an agreement was reached on 8 April. The disruptions damaged the company's standing with consumers and gave Norwegian Air Shuttle, its principal Norwegian competitor, a commercial opportunity. A contemporary ranking cited in the reference material placed SAS Braathens at the bottom of a group of 140 Norwegian companies for consumer confidence. Petter Jansen, the airline's chief executive, left office in June 2006 after disagreements with SAS management in Stockholm. His departure was controversial in Norway because SAS Braathens was reported to have been the only profitable national branch of Scandinavian Airlines at that time. Rather than maintain the separate Norwegian airline identity, SAS later decided to absorb the operation into its mainline structure. On 1 June 2007, SAS Braathens was renamed SAS Scandinavian Airlines Norge. The change ended the brand's existence as a distinct airline while preserving its routes and assets within Scandinavian Airlines.

• 2007

  Brand is absorbed into SAS

  [1]SAS Braathensen.wikipedia.org

  On 1 June 2007, SAS Braathens became SAS Scandinavian Airlines Norge and ceased to operate as a separate brand.

• 2006

  Labor dispute disrupts operations

  [1]SAS Braathensen.wikipedia.org

  A cabin-crew strike in April grounded most flights before management and unions reached an agreement.

• 2005

  SAS Braathens becomes operational under its new identity

  [1]SAS Braathensen.wikipedia.org

  The combined Norwegian operation began operating as SAS Braathens in April 2005.

• 2004

  SAS Braathens is established

  [1]SAS Braathensen.wikipedia.org

  SAS combined its Norwegian division and Braathens to create the SAS Braathens airline operation.

• 2001

  SAS acquires Braathens

  [1]SAS Braathensen.wikipedia.org

  After a difficult financial period, Braathens was bought by the SAS Group while continuing to operate under its own name for a time.

• 1946

  Braathens is founded

  [1]SAS Braathensen.wikipedia.org

  Ludvig G. Braathen founded Braathens on 26 March 1946. The company initially operated under the Braathens S.A.F.E. name.

A full-service Norwegian national airline operation within the SAS Group, combining SAS's Norwegian division with Braathens and serving domestic, Scandinavian, and European markets.

• Airline route network · 2004

  Domestic passenger services

  Scheduled flights linking Norwegian cities and regions, with Oslo Airport, Gardermoen serving as the principal hub. Domestic services generally used a single-cabin configuration and formed the core of the airline's Norwegian network.

• Airline route network · 2004

  European passenger services

  Scheduled services connected Norway with destinations elsewhere in Europe, including leisure-oriented routes extending as far south as Las Palmas. The European network could include Economy, Economy Extra, and Business service levels.

• Onboard retail and catering · 2007

  CloudShop

  A buy-on-board concept used on selected economy services. Passengers could purchase sandwiches, drinks, and other refreshments, particularly on domestic and shorter European flights where complimentary catering was limited.

• Frequent-flyer program

  EuroBonus

  SAS Braathens participated in the SAS EuroBonus frequent-flyer program, allowing its passengers to earn and use loyalty benefits across the wider SAS system and associated network.

• 2007

  End the separate SAS Braathens brandStrategy

  Background

  SAS decided to simplify its Norwegian operating structure and discontinue the separate SAS Braathens identity.

  Action taken

  On 1 June 2007, the airline was integrated into SAS mainline and renamed SAS Scandinavian Airlines Norge.

  Aftermath

  SAS Braathens ceased to exist as a distinct airline brand, although its operations continued within Scandinavian Airlines.

  Source

• 2006

  Resolve cabin-crew strikeOther

  Background

  Negotiations between cabin personnel and management failed on 6 April 2006, amid wider reliability problems and flight cancellations.

  Action taken

  Management and unions reached an agreement on 8 April, ending the strike.

  Aftermath

  Most flights had been grounded during the dispute, and the disruption weakened consumer confidence while benefiting Norwegian Air Shuttle.

  • Norwegian Air Shuttle — The competitor benefited commercially from SAS Braathens' strike-related cancellations and reliability problems.

  Source

• 2004

  Combine SAS Norway and BraathensM&A

  Background

  SAS owned Braathens after its 2001 acquisition and sought to consolidate the two Norwegian airline operations.

  Action taken

  The SAS Group established SAS Braathens as a single wholly owned Norwegian airline operation.

  Aftermath

  The combined carrier became Norway's largest airline operation and operated domestic, Scandinavian, and European routes.

  Source

1. 1SAS Braathensen.wikipedia.org