Det Norske Luftfartselskap

Det Norske Luftfartselskap, or DNL, The Norwegian Airline Company, was Norway's flag carrier between 1933 and 1948. DNL has since 1946 been a part of the SAS Group.

DNL was established in 1933 under the full name Det Norske Luftfartselskap, Fred. Olsen & Bergenske A/S, named after two shipping companies that provided much of the financing, Fred. Olsen and Bergenske.

In 1935, the airline bought their first aircraft, a Junkers W 34 (LN-DAB). This aircraft served the mail route between Oslo - Gothenburg - Copenhagen. They also bought a Junkers Ju 52. In 1936, the airline bought another Junkers Ju 52.

In 1936, the company also got a Sikorsky S.43 "Baby Clipper" flying boat, which was to be operated in pool on air service to the United States, via Reykjavik, in cooperation with Pan American Airways, in an arrangfement negotiated by Bernt Balchen. A few days before the start of the operation the Americans cancelled the agreement. The plane was then used for a route Oslo - Stockholm (where the S.43 could land on the new Bromma airport), but it was no commercial success, and the plane was finally sold to French airline Aéromaritime.

DNLs first passenger route was between Bergen - Ålesund - Molde - Kristiansund - Trondheim - Brønnøysund - Sandnessjøen - Bodø - Narvik and Harstad. This route was a summer route and opened in June, 1936 and ceased in 1939 when the Germans took the aircraft. During 1940 - 1941 the route was operated together with German pilots.

In 1946, the airline started routes to North Norway and Europe and the fleet consisted of seven JU 52s, two DC-3s and two DC-4s. At that same time, the airline started intercontinental traffic in cooperation with Det Danske Luftfartselskab and Svensk Interkontinental Lufttrafik in an SAS Agreement. In 1948 the company was merged into SAS Group.

External links

* [http://www.europeanairlines.no/Arcticles_SikorskyS.43_040404.htm The history of a Norwegian Sikorsky S.43]