Editing Braathens ASA (section)

===Entering the Jet Age===
[[File:Braathens SAFE Fokker F-28-1000 Manteufel.jpg|thumb|[[Fokker F-28 Fellowship|Fokker F-28-1000 Fellowship]] in 1972]]
Braathens SAFE ordered three [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]] jets in 1965, which were intended to rationalize charter operations.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 167</ref> The shorter -100 model was rejected in favor of becoming the launch customer of the [[Fokker F-28 Fellowship]], which was planned as the new domestic workhorse.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 243–245</ref> The move would see all the F-27 replaced with F-28.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 173–178</ref> Both jet aircraft were delivered in 1969. This period also saw the gradual retirement of the DC-4 and DC-6.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 180–182</ref>

[[Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget]] opened in 1970 and [[Molde Airport, Årø]] in 1972, with Braathens SAFE granted permission to operate the routes.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 183</ref> The airline also received permission to operate from Bergen via either Ålesund, Molde or Kristiansund to Bodø and Tromsø.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 186–194</ref> Between 1975 and 1977, the last three F-27 were sold to sister airline [[Busy Bee]], which took over some of the smallest services. "Green Routes" were introduced from 1976, which offered discounts on certain flights with strict conditions.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 203–211</ref> Founder Ludvig G. Braathen died on 27 December 1976, while still acting as [[chief executive officer]] (CEO). He was replaced by his son [[Bjørn G. Braathen]].<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 212–213</ref> During the 1970s, Braathens SAFE took delivery of eleven 737s, including one with a cargo door, and three with extended range which allowed for non-stop flights to the [[Canary Islands]].<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 237</ref>  Discounted "summer tickets" were introduced from the early 1980s which increased load factor.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 261–267</ref>

[[File:Braathens SAFE 767-205 LN-SUV.jpg|thumb|left|One of two [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-200]] aircraft at [[Stockholm-Arlanda Airport]]]]
Braathens SAFE bought 15 percent of DNL in 1982 and applied for concessions for helicopter services from Stavanger to offshore [[oil platform]]s. This resulted in the incumbent, [[Helikopter Service]], applying for all of Braathens SAFE's western Norway routes. Neither application was successful. [[Busy Bee]] was contracted in 1984 to connect Farsund, [[Haugesund Airport, Karmøy]], Bergen and Stavanger, as well as operate from [[Sandefjord Airport, Torp]].<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 268–277</ref>

In an attempt to remain competitive in the charter market from Oslo, [[Gothenburg]] and [[Stockholm]], the airline ordered two [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-200]] in 1980. They were configured with 242 seats, fewer than for most charter airlines, which typically had 273. The aircraft were delivered in 1984.
<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 144–148</ref> Launched as "First Business Class" to charter travelers, the business model was unsuccessful as new customer groups had little willingness to pay.  The company was faced with not being able to charter out the plane because of the lower number of seats, but could not put in the extra seats because the aircraft were also used for scheduled flights. As a result, the two aircraft were sold in 1986, and the airline's Swedish charter operations closed in 1988.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 148–150</ref>

[[File:Braathens B737-200 and British Airways 757.jpg|thumb|Boeing 737-200 in 1987]]
The four remaining F-28s were also sold in 1986, giving Braathens SAFE a unified 737-200 fleet, reducing operating costs.<ref name=fleet>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 364–365</ref> Six more 737-200 were delivered in 1986.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg (1995): 274</ref> On 1 June 1989, [[Erik G. Braathen]], son of Bjørn G., took over as CEO at the age of 34.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 305</ref> With the launch of the [[Boeing 737 Classic]] range, Braathens took delivery of the 156-seat 737-400 and the 124-seat 737-500, both featuring [[glass cockpit]]s. The larger model was mostly used for charter services, while the smaller was mostly used in the domestic market.<ref>Tjomsland and Wilsberg, 1995: 247–249</ref> The first -400 was delivered in 1989 and the first -500 the following year. By 1994 all -200 had been retired.<ref name=fleet />