Norway government silent on report Lufthansa eyeing SAS

OSLO (Reuters) - The Norwegian government declined to comment on Friday on a Reuters report that Germany's Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) is examining a takeover of Scandinavian airline SAS (SAS.ST) in which Norway owns a 14.3 percent stake.

"In principle, we do not comment on this kind of speculation," Trade and Industry Ministry spokeswoman Mette Fossum Beyer said.

Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters the German airline was examining a takeover of its smaller sector peer to bolster its position in Europe's consolidating airline industry.

Denmark also owns 14.3 percent of SAS and Sweden owns a 21.4 percent stake in the airline. In the past, Norway's centre-left cabinet has said it has no plans for changing its SAS stake.

(Reporting by Joergen Frich)