 In 1950 , it became increasingly clear that the SAS @-@ cooperation was weak , and that either a full merger or a <unk> of the cooperation would be necessary . Braathen suggested to the government that DNL , Fred . <unk> Airtransport and Braathens SAFE should merge to create a new domestic airline , but this proposal was rejected by both DNL and Fred . <unk> . In 1949 , the Swedish branch of SAS , <unk> ( <unk> ) , and the Danish branch , <unk> <unk> <unk> ( <unk> ) started a joint route to the Far East . For a merger to be completed , Danish and Swedish authorities required that SAS be granted all international routes from Norway , meaning that Braathens SAFE would lose its concession from 1 March 1954 . The SAS merger was completed on 8 August 1951 . 
