With these purchases, the Stockholm-based airline reached the maximum amount of shares that it can purchase under a recent agreement between the two airlines.

In January the financially pressed airline reached an accord with the five unions representing its employees.

This partnership was founded after the four airlines reached agreement that existing international carrier facilities were inadequate for their needs.

Separately, the airline reached a tentative agreement late Saturday with its flight attendants' union.

Following the launch of its domestic product, the airline reached its 80% self-service target three days after going live.

On Monday, the airline reached a tentative deal with its pilots' union to trim $465 million a year in costs.

The airline reached a deal with its pilots in October for 18 percent pay cuts and other benefit reductions.

Within two years of operating commercial flights, the airline reached the 1 million mark in passenger carried on January 6, 2010.

The nation's largest airlines have reached two agreements to form competing alliances that could portend a significant shift in the industry's landscape.

The airline had reached the position just six years after operations commenced.