SAS has changed its mind and continues to fly commercially from Arlanda to Kiruna, Luleå and Umeå.

The airline Amapola will maintain other socially critical flight routes.

On Friday, the airline Amapola won the Swedish Transport Administration's tender for essential air transport to Norrland and Gotland during the corona crisis. This concerns eight destinations.

”"SAS got back to us and announced that they are resuming traffic in three locations," says the Swedish Transport Administration's press officer Bengt Olsson to TT.

”"With SAS starting to fly commercially, there is no basis for the state to step in and negotiate those routes as well."”

Amapola will maintain the socially critical flights from Arlanda to Visby, Sundsvall, Örnsköldsvik, Östersund and Skellefteå.

”"We have discussed this with Amapola and they are okay with releasing the three locations," says Olsson.

Just like Amapola, SAS will operate the routes on weekdays and Sundays, with one round trip per day.

”"We will do that as long as it is commercially viable," SAS's press spokesperson Tonje Sund tells TT.

Because Amapola has been commissioned by the state to operate services to Visby, SAS will end its services there on Tuesday, the company announces.

The virus crisis has led to huge passenger losses and cancelled flights. Therefore, in early April, the government tasked the Swedish Transport Administration with guaranteeing regular air traffic to Norrland and Gotland. This means that, for example, medical transport is secured.

The agreement between Amapola and the Swedish Transport Administration can be extended monthly until September 2020.

Amapola Flyg AB, owned by Salénia Air Cargo AB, already operates three of the Swedish Transport Administration's procured flight routes: Hemavan–Kramfors–Arlanda, Lycksele–Vilhelmina–Arlanda, and Torsby–Hagfors–Arlanda.

Source: TT