Third-quarter earnings support profitability plan for 2005

Key figures from the SAS Group’s quarterly results published today:

• Income before capital gains and nonrecurring items amounted to MSEK 619 in the third quarter of 2005, an earnings improvement of MSEK 526.
• The Group’s total operating revenue rose 7.4% to MSEK 16,567 for the third quarter of 2005.
• The Group transported a total of 9.3 million passengers during the quarter, an increase of 8.9 % compared with 2004.

Earnings of MSEK 619 are in line or slightly better than market expectations (SME Direkt MSEK 595).
The unit cost for Scandinavian Airlines fell 5.1% January-September 2005 vs 2004 adjusted for currency and fuel.

Jørgen Lindegaard, President and CEO of the SAS Group, comments:
“Third-quarter earnings were, as anticipated, positive and in line with the profitability plan for the SAS Group. The new business model in Europe has proved successful and combined with continued reductions in unit costs we are strengthening the Group’s position.”

See quarterly report at www.sasgroup.net for more detailed information.

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