 The deregulation process , which would eliminate the need for concessions for routes , was driven by Norway 's application for membership of the EU . This was supported by the Labor Party and the right @-@ winged Conservative Party and Progress Party . The plans from the EU indicated that international routes within EU should be deregulated from 1 January 1993 , with Norway and Sweden joining from 1 July . Full , domestic liberalization should be performed by 1 April 1997 . SAS and Braathens SAFE proposed a solution where only Norwegian airlines could compete until 1997 , which was thought to efficiently hinder other airlines , rather than these two , until then . SAS announced its support for competition on 4 February 1993 , while Braathens SAFE stated that it no longer was in favor of competition , despite having arguing for this for the whole of the company 's history . The company stated that stability was needed and that competition would result in marginalized routes , that were being cross @-@ subsidized , being closed . SAS stated that with competition , prices would fall 20 – 30 % , and that SAS wanted to operate with a loss to force Braathens SAFE close services . 
