SAS registration changes
I've always wondered why many SAS aircraft are moved between the registers of the three countries (OY,SE,LN) from time to time. Is it a reflection of where the aircraft are based and/or the nationalities of the crews used, or is it perhaps just to keep a 'fair' balance between the countries in terms of numbers of aircraft?
For example, many of the newer NG 737's were moved to the Norwegian register fairly early in their lives, and some of the 767's have been on all three in short sucession.
I'd have thought that under JAA it didn't make any difference which Eurpoean country the aircraft was registered in. I'm sure the paperwork and costs involved must be quite considerable, so there must be a good reason. Is the company truly run as an international concern or are there many such, less visible boundaries in other areas?