SAS is a smaller legacy airline; SOS is the International Morse Code distress signal. In the case of SAS airlines, both were appropriate. Scandinavian Airline System or SAS started in 1946 and have an excellent history including becoming the first airline to use the polar route in 1954 on flights from Copenhagen to Los Angeles. For many years, SAS was making money, buying up smaller airlines: It seemed it was destined to become a super airline. Then things began to change. Other bigger airlines looked at the company as a target; SAS survived takeovers by forming alliances.
Unfortunately, costs kept increasing. In 2008, the company finally failed to turn a profit for the year and started a trend we are all too familiar with. By 2010, it was clear SAS was in deep trouble and profusely bleeding cash. In early 2012, the company could no longer conceal its problems and it became clear to all that bankruptcy was imminent unless drastic action was taken.