Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik AB
A Swedish intercontinental airline founded in 1943 that became part of the Scandinavian Airlines consortium in 1948.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik AB, commonly abbreviated as SILA and marketed internationally as Swedish Intercontinental Airlines, was a Swedish airline established in 1943. It was created during the formative period of post-war international aviation, when European carriers were rebuilding long-distance networks and seeking access to scarce aircraft, routes, and international traffic rights. Banker Marcus Wallenberg Jr. was the airline's founder, and Per Norlin served as one of its early presidents. SILA's business was centered on international and intercontinental air transport. Its operations included a twice-weekly service between Stockholm and Warsaw in 1946, as well as participation in the introduction of United States airmail service to Copenhagen and Stockholm that year. The airline operated Douglas DC-4 aircraft and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft. These aircraft reflected the transitional character of the period: long-range aviation was moving from wartime and military-derived equipment toward specialized post-war passenger and cargo operations, while airlines still faced severe limitations in fleet availability. The company also illustrates the practical constraints of early post-war air travel. In 1946, a group of Jewish Americans asked whether SILA could transport approximately two thousand relatively affluent Jewish Poles from Poland to the United States for resettlement. Because SILA had very limited aircraft capacity and was operating only a twice-weekly Stockholm–Warsaw schedule, it could not undertake the proposed movement. The episode demonstrates both the demand for international mobility after the Second World War and the restricted scale of contemporary airline operations. In August 1946, SILA joined a cooperative arrangement with Danish Air Lines and Norwegian Air Lines. The group later expanded to include AB Aerotransport and developed into the Scandinavian Airlines consortium. Rather than continuing as an independent airline, SILA was absorbed into the new Scandinavian structure. The participating airlines merged on 30 June 1948 with pooled capitalization reported at $25 million. SILA therefore operated as an independent Swedish airline from 1943 until its integration into the Scandinavian Airlines organization in 1948. Its historical importance lies less in the size of its fleet than in its role in the creation of coordinated Scandinavian international air services.
History
Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik AB was founded in Sweden in 1943 by banker Marcus Wallenberg Jr. and operated internationally under the English-language name Swedish Intercontinental Airlines. Its creation came during the Second World War era, when Scandinavian aviation companies were preparing for the restoration and expansion of international routes. Per Norlin was one of the airline's early presidents. The carrier's operations were shaped by the limited availability of suitable aircraft in the first post-war years. SILA operated Douglas DC-4 aircraft and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft, combining equipment associated with long-range civil transport and wartime aviation. In 1946, it maintained a twice-weekly service between Stockholm and Warsaw. The route connected Sweden with Poland at a time when cross-border movement was particularly important but operationally difficult. SILA participated in the introduction of United States airmail service to Copenhagen and Stockholm in 1946. This placed the company within a wider effort to restore reliable transatlantic and northern European communications. Air-mail services were strategically significant because they created regular international links even when passenger networks remained small and aircraft capacity was scarce. The airline's limited capacity also affected humanitarian and migration-related transport. In 1946, a group of Jewish Americans asked whether SILA could carry around two thousand wealthy Jewish Poles from Poland to the United States for resettlement. The company could not fulfill the request because its fleet was too small and its Stockholm–Warsaw service operated only twice weekly. The event is recorded as an example of the gap between the substantial demand for post-war international relocation and the restricted capabilities of contemporary airlines. In August 1946, SILA joined Danish Air Lines and Norwegian Air Lines in a three-airline consortium. The arrangement was later expanded to include AB Aerotransport, the Swedish domestic and international carrier. Cooperation among the national airlines provided a basis for pooling resources and coordinating Scandinavian long-haul services rather than having the three countries compete independently with small fleets. The consortium ultimately became Scandinavian Airlines. On 30 June 1948, the participating companies merged with pooled capitalization reported at $25 million. SILA consequently ceased to operate as a separate airline after the merger. Its independent life lasted roughly five years, from its formation in 1943 to its integration into the Scandinavian Airlines structure in 1948. The company is best understood as an early Swedish component of the cooperative airline system that created a unified Scandinavian international carrier.
- 1948
Merger creates Scandinavian Airlines
[1]On 30 June, the consortium airlines merge with pooled capitalization reported at $25 million, ending SILA's independent existence.
- 1946
Stockholm–Warsaw service operates
[1]SILA operates a twice-weekly scheduled connection between Stockholm and Warsaw.
- 1946
United States airmail service reaches Copenhagen and Stockholm
[1]SILA participates in the introduction of United States airmail service to the two Scandinavian capitals.
- 1946
SILA joins Scandinavian airline consortium
[1]The airline joins Danish Air Lines and Norwegian Air Lines in a cooperative three-carrier arrangement, later expanded to include AB Aerotransport.
- 1943
Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik AB is founded
[1]Banker Marcus Wallenberg Jr. establishes the Swedish airline, which trades internationally as Swedish Intercontinental Airlines.
Products and positioning
A Swedish international airline focused on rebuilding and extending Scandinavian long-distance air links in the immediate post-war period.
Passenger air transport · 1946
Scheduled international passenger services
SILA provided scheduled international air transport during the early post-war period. Its documented network included a twice-weekly Stockholm–Warsaw service in 1946. The route represented the airline's practical role in reconnecting Sweden with continental Europe while operating with a small fleet and limited frequency.
Airmail transport · 1946
United States airmail service
The airline participated in the introduction of United States airmail service to Copenhagen and Stockholm in 1946. This service formed part of the restoration of dependable international communications and complemented the carrier's passenger operations.
Aircraft operation
Douglas DC-4 operations
Douglas DC-4 aircraft formed part of SILA's operational equipment. The type was a long-range four-engined aircraft suited to the expansion of post-war international passenger and mail services.
Aircraft operation
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress operations
SILA also operated Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft. Their presence reflects the use of wartime-derived aircraft in the transition to post-war commercial aviation.
Brand decisions
1948
Merge into Scandinavian AirlinesM&ABackground
The Scandinavian airline consortium had evolved from the 1946 cooperation among SILA, Danish Air Lines, Norwegian Air Lines, and later AB Aerotransport.
Action taken
On 30 June 1948, the participating airlines merged into the Scandinavian Airlines organization.
Aftermath
SILA ceased to exist as an independent airline and its operations became part of the unified Scandinavian carrier.
Pooled capitalization. $25 million (1948 merger)
1946
Join Scandinavian airline consortiumStrategyBackground
Small Scandinavian national airlines faced the operational and financial challenges of rebuilding international services after the war. SILA had limited aircraft capacity and a small scheduled network.
Action taken
SILA entered a cooperative arrangement with Danish Air Lines and Norwegian Air Lines in August 1946. The arrangement was later expanded to include AB Aerotransport.
Aftermath
The consortium developed into Scandinavian Airlines and provided the organizational basis for the participating carriers' eventual merger.
Recent events
- 1948
SILA becomes part of Scandinavian Airlines[1]
M&A
SILA merged with the participating Scandinavian carriers on 30 June 1948, ending its existence as an independent airline.
- 1946
SILA joins Scandinavian three-airline consortium[1]
M&A
Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik AB entered a cooperative arrangement with Danish Air Lines and Norwegian Air Lines, creating the foundation for the later Scandinavian Airlines organization.
- 1946
SILA participates in new United States airmail service[1]
Other
The airline was involved in the introduction of United States airmail service to Copenhagen and Stockholm.
- 1946
SILA unable to undertake proposed transport of Polish Jewish resettlers[1]
Other
A request to transport approximately two thousand Jewish Poles from Poland to the United States could not be accepted because the airline had insufficient aircraft and operated only a twice-weekly Stockholm–Warsaw service.
Sources1 sources
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