Stockholm - Trading in the SAS Group, operator of joint carrier Scandinavian Airlines, was Friday halted on the stock exchanges of Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm.

The Stockholm stock exchange said the move was "until further notice."

The move came after the share price climbed some 10 per cent amid media reports that Lufthansa of Germany was considering a possible bid for the SAS Group. Lufthansa has in the past often been linked to SAS.

In common with several airline groups, SAS has posted losses over record-high fuel prices and a drop in passenger traffic. SAS Group spokesmen were not immediately available for comment.

The governments of Norway, Sweden and Denmark own a 50 per cent stake in SAS, while private shareholders hold the rest.

Spokesmen for the government ministries handling SAS ownership matters in the respective Scandinavia capitals declined to comment when asked by local media outlets. (dpa)