Air France-KLM announced plans to increase its ownership stake in Scandinavian airline SAS from 19.9% to 60.5%.

This move involves the acquisition of stakes currently held by Castlelake, a major shareholder, and Lind Invest, another significant investor.

The decision is part of Air France-KLM’s strategy to strengthen its position in the competitive Nordic travel market and enhances its operational control over SAS, which has been in a restructuring phase following financial challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The intended acquisition comes at a time when SAS is working to recover from substantial financial losses and is implementing a transformation plan aimed at restructuring its operations and improving profitability.

The airline filed for bankruptcy protection in July 2022, and has been pursuing various avenues for financing and investment to support its recovery.

Air France-KLM’s proposed increase in ownership is expected to provide SAS with additional operational and financial stability, and align with the airline group's broader strategic objectives of expanding its network and enhancing connectivity in Europe.

This development underscores the ongoing trend of airline consolidation in response to the economic pressures faced by the travel industry.

The implications of this acquisition extend beyond the involved companies, impacting travelers and businesses in the Scandinavian region and broader European air travel market.

Stakeholders in the airline industry are closely monitoring the situation as the deal progresses and awaits regulatory approvals.