Fred. Olsen Airtransport
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Norwegian charter and cargo airline that operated from 1946 until 1997.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Fred. Olsen Airtransport, formally A/S Fred. Olsens Flyselskap and commonly abbreviated FOF, was a Norwegian charter and cargo airline active from the post-war reconstruction period until 1997. It was created as a successor and spin-off of the Fred. Olsen interests associated with Det Norske Luftfartselskap, the company that had helped establish Norway's early national airline. Although it carried passengers at various points, its long-term identity was defined more by freight charter, aircraft leasing, technical services, and specialist flying than by a conventional scheduled passenger network. The company was formally incorporated on 16 October 1945 and began commercial operations in 1946 with former military Douglas C-47 aircraft. Its first commercial flight, operated in November 1946, carried a ship-engine component to Colombo for Wilh. Wilhelmsen. Early operations were based at Oslo Airport, Fornebu, with Copenhagen becoming an important secondary base for cargo activity. A short-lived cooperation with DNL was followed by a clearer specialization in passenger and freight charter work. The airline used a succession of piston and turboprop aircraft, including the Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-4, Vickers Viscount and Curtiss C-46 Commando. During the 1950s and 1960s, Fred. Olsen developed a mixed business model. Viscounts were used for passenger charters and were leased to operators including SAS, Air France and Austrian Airlines, while Curtiss Commandos handled freight, including flower shipments to Norway. The airline also created a technical organization at Fornebu. Fred. Olsen Aircraft Maintenance was established in 1955 and later replaced by a larger heavy-maintenance operation capable of work for other airlines and for Royal Norwegian Air Force aircraft. Cargo became increasingly central during the 1960s. The company introduced Douglas DC-6 freighters in 1965 and subsequently operated much of SAS's night and European cargo flying under lease or contract arrangements. It also participated in the Biafran airlift during the Nigerian Civil War, operating humanitarian flights from São Tomé to Uli for Joint Church Aid. One aircraft was bombed in November 1969, after which a replacement aircraft was sent to continue the operation. Fred. Olsen entered executive aviation in 1967 through its Fred. Olsen Executive Service brand, operating as many as four Dassault Falcon 20 business jets. These aircraft served corporate charter and air-ambulance missions before being transferred to the Royal Norwegian Air Force by 1978. In the 1970s, the company moved toward the Lockheed L-188 Electra for cargo operations. The Electras became the backbone of its fleet after the final DC-6 aircraft left service in 1977. The company also held a long-running contract with Norway's Civil Aviation Administration to operate and maintain aircraft used for navigation-aid calibration and flight inspection. This work progressed from a Convair CV-340 to a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and, from 1996, a de Havilland Canada Dash 8. The Dash 8 reduced operating costs substantially and replaced the older calibration aircraft, but it did not reverse the airline's wider commercial difficulties. Fred. Olsen's cargo business was affected by the gradual development of SAS's own freight network. When SAS discontinued its freight-only flights in 1988, FOF lost a major source of work. It later obtained freight contracts connected with TNT, KLM and DHL, with DHL flying largely based at Brussels Airport. The DHL business supported the addition of another Electra in 1991, and the company was reported to be operating six Electras by 1996. Nevertheless, aging aircraft, high operating costs, and the loss or uncertainty of maintenance contracts made the business increasingly difficult to sustain. FOF announced in February 1997 that it would cease operations. Attempts to transfer the company to its employees did not succeed, and the airline ended its activities later that year.
History
Fred. Olsen Airtransport emerged from the aviation interests of the Fred. Olsen group after the Second World War. The Olsen family had been involved in the creation of Det Norske Luftfartselskap, Norway's pre-war national airline, but the post-liberation settlement resulted in a new national carrier taking over the DNL brand. The remaining legal enterprise was reorganized as Fred. Olsen Airtransport, owned through Ganger Rolf and Bonheur. It was formally incorporated in October 1945 and began flying in 1946. The new airline acquired three former military Douglas C-47s from the United States. One reached Norway in June 1946, with the others following after overhaul in Scotland. The company initially pursued international freight and charter work, supported by arrangements with British Overseas Airways Corporation and a network of overseas agents. A first commercial flight in November 1946 carried a ship-engine part to Colombo. Cooperation with DNL began in 1947 but ended after about a year, when DNL moved toward the Scandinavian Airlines System. FOF consequently concentrated on charter and contract operations for passengers and freight. Two aircraft write-offs in April and May 1952 created shortages of aircraft and crew. FOF responded by acquiring another DC-3 and a Douglas DC-4, although the DC-4 remained in service for only two years. A Hiller 360 helicopter acquired in 1954 crashed on its inaugural flight. The company expanded its presence at Copenhagen Airport and in 1955 ordered Vickers Viscounts. The aircraft were intended for international scheduled services, but the relevant applications were not approved, so the Viscounts were leased to other operators and used in charter work. FOF also established Fred. Olsen Aircraft Maintenance at Fornebu. Curtiss C-46 Commandos joined the fleet in 1957 and became important freight aircraft, including for the transportation of flowers to Norway. Some were wet-leased to SAS for freight services. The Viscounts were leased to airlines including Austrian Airlines during its early development and were also used by SAS and Air France. The limited market for aircraft of this size eventually led to their sale to Indian Airlines in 1962, followed by downsizing and layoffs. The last C-47 left the fleet in 1961. FOF returned to larger freighters with a Douglas DC-6 acquired in 1965. Two more followed in 1967, allowing the airline to take over most of SAS's night cargo flying. The company's technical activities also expanded. A heavy-maintenance division was developed at Fornebu from 1966, and the facilities were authorized in 1972 to undertake work for external customers. This included support for Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3 Orion and C-130 Hercules aircraft. The airline diversified into corporate aviation in 1967 through Fred. Olsen Executive Service, operating Dassault Falcon 20 jets for executive charter and air-ambulance missions. It also acquired a Convair CV-340 in 1968 for both freight charter and Civil Aviation Administration calibration work. The aircraft became heavily committed to flight inspection as Norway's regional airport system expanded. During the Biafran airlift, FOF established an operating base at São Tomé and flew relief cargo to Uli. The bombing of an aircraft in 1969 was a serious operational setback, but the operation continued with replacement equipment. The jet age for the airline's cargo business arrived through the acquisition of Nordic Air and the introduction of Lockheed L-188 Electras in 1973 and 1974. The Electras gradually replaced the DC-6s in regular cargo work, while the older aircraft continued in spot charter service until the last was sold in 1977. The Falcons were transferred to the Royal Norwegian Air Force by 1978, although FOF continued heavy maintenance work on them. The Hawker Siddeley HS 748 replaced the Convair in calibration work in 1976, and a de Havilland Canada Dash 8 entered that role in 1996. Through the 1980s, FOF depended heavily on contracts with major carriers and logistics companies. SAS progressively developed its own freight network and discontinued freight-only flights in 1988, removing a major customer. FOF subsequently obtained work associated with TNT, KLM and DHL. DHL operations, largely centered on Brussels Airport, supported a fourth Electra in 1991 and contributed to a fleet of six Electras by 1996. However, aging Electras were increasingly expensive compared with newer freighters, while maintenance contracts became less secure. The company announced its closure in February 1997 after unsuccessful employee buyout discussions and ended operations during that year.
- 1997
Operations cease
[1]FOF announced its closure in February and ended airline operations during 1997.
- 1996
Dash 8 calibration aircraft enters service
[1]A de Havilland Canada Dash 8 replaced the Hawker Siddeley HS 748 for Civil Aviation Administration calibration work.
- 1991
DHL cargo expansion
[1]A DHL contract increased activity sufficiently for FOF to add another Electra, with much of the operation based at Brussels Airport.
- 1988
SAS freight-only flying ends
[1]SAS discontinued its freight-only flights, substantially reducing one of Fred. Olsen's most important sources of contracted work.
- 1977
DC-6 fleet retired
[1]The last Douglas DC-6 left service, leaving Electras as the principal aircraft in the airline's cargo fleet.
- 1973
Lockheed Electras enter service
[1]The acquisition of Nordic Air enabled FOF to introduce Lockheed L-188 Electras, which became the core of its later cargo fleet.
- 1967
Executive aviation launched
[1]Fred. Olsen Executive Service began operating Dassault Falcon 20 corporate jets, while additional DC-6 aircraft strengthened the cargo business.
- 1965
Large-scale cargo expansion
[1]The airline acquired its first Douglas DC-6 freighter to support expanding European cargo operations and contracts connected with SAS.
- 1955
Vickers Viscount era begins
[1]FOF ordered Vickers Viscounts, becoming the first Norwegian operator of turboprop aircraft and expanding its charter and leasing capabilities.
- 1946
Commercial operations begin
[1]The company began operating former military Douglas C-47 aircraft from Fornebu and undertook its first commercial cargo flight in November.
Products and positioning
A specialist Norwegian aviation operator focused on cargo, charter, wet leasing, executive aviation, calibration flying, and aircraft maintenance rather than a mass-market scheduled passenger network.
Air transport service · 1946
Cargo charter and contract flying
Cargo was the airline's principal long-term activity. FOF transported freight on behalf of SAS and later logistics customers including TNT, KLM and DHL. Its fleet evolved from C-47s and C-46 Commandos to DC-6 and Electra freighters. Operations included night cargo schedules, European contract flying, flower transportation and ad hoc charter work.
Air transport service · 1946
Passenger charter and wet leasing
Although not principally a scheduled passenger carrier, FOF operated passenger charters and leased aircraft with crew to other airlines. Vickers Viscounts were used for charter activity and were made available to operators including SAS, Air France and Austrian Airlines. The company also operated charter flights to destinations including Svalbard and Greenland.
Corporate aviation · 1967
Fred. Olsen Executive Service
The executive aviation division operated Dassault Falcon 20 business jets from 1967 until the aircraft were transferred to the Royal Norwegian Air Force by 1978. Missions included corporate executive charters and air-ambulance flights between Southern Europe and Scandinavia.
Specialist aviation service · 1967
Calibration and flight-inspection services
FOF operated aircraft for the Norwegian Civil Aviation Administration to calibrate navigation aids and inspect aviation infrastructure. The fleet used for this work included a Convair CV-340, a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and, from 1996, a de Havilland Canada Dash 8.
Aviation maintenance · 1955
Aircraft maintenance
Fred. Olsen developed maintenance facilities at Fornebu beginning with Fred. Olsen Aircraft Maintenance in 1955. The later heavy-maintenance division was authorized to serve external airline customers and performed work on aircraft including Royal Norwegian Air Force P-3 Orion and C-130 Hercules aircraft.
Controversies
1989
Partnair Flight 394 maintenance connection
Fred. Olsen was responsible for maintenance of the Partnair Convair 580 involved in the 1989 Partnair Flight 394 crash. The accident investigation attributed the crash to fraudulent aircraft parts; the available reference states that no one was criminally charged.
Marketing campaigns
- 1968Biafran airlift
Nigeria · São Tomé
FOF operated humanitarian cargo flights for Joint Church Aid from São Tomé to Uli during the Nigerian Civil War. It created a dedicated operating presence at São Tomé and used Curtiss C-46 and Douglas DC-6 aircraft.
Outcome. An aircraft was bombed in November 1969, but the operation continued after a replacement DC-6 was deployed.
Brand decisions
1997
Decision to cease airline operationsStrategyBackground
The company faced reduced contract volume, difficult Central European freight economics and the high operating costs of its aging Electra fleet.
Action taken
FOF announced that it would stop operations. Discussions about an employee takeover were unsuccessful.
Aftermath
The airline ceased operations during 1997.
1994
Secure a new calibration-aircraft arrangementStrategyBackground
The Civil Aviation Administration was preparing to replace its Hawker Siddeley calibration aircraft and was considering several newer regional aircraft types.
Action taken
Through its controlling position in Widerøe, Fred. Olsen helped arrange the purchase of a de Havilland Canada Dash 8 using a Widerøe option, in connection with continuation of FOF's maintenance contract.
Aftermath
The Dash 8 entered calibration service in 1996 and reduced hourly operating costs compared with the previous aircraft.
Aircraft purchase price. NOK 78 million (1994)
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