SAS - Scandinavian Airlines

[alphagolf]

SAS have announced the start of flights from Bristol to Stockholm commencing on June 30th 2014.

Flights will be operated by B737-800 aircraft on Monday's and Friday's until 15th August.

BRS Press Release below:

New SAS service links Bristol and Stockholm


News Release (25/11/13)

SAS

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has announced a new service linking Bristol with Stockholm next summer.

Flights will operate twice a week (on Monday and Friday) from 30 June to 15 August 2014, using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The schedule has been designed with long weekend leisure breaks in mind, and is expected to prove equally popular with UK and Swedish travellers alike.

Built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges, Stockholm is one of Europe’s most beautiful capital cities. With its 750 year history and rich cultural life, it offers a wide selection of world-class museums and attractions, many of which can be explored on foot. With no direct flight from the South West of the UK for the last five years, the Swedish capital will be a new city break option for many travellers in the region.

The route’s strong inbound potential has also been recognised by local and national tourist boards, with VisitEngland, Destination Bristol and Bath Tourism Plus supporting Bristol Airport and SAS in promoting the new service. It is estimated that it could generate over £1 million for the local visitor economy.

James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland, said:
“This route not only gives Swedish visitors a great link to Bristol, it also provides convenient access to Bath, the Cotswolds and the rest of South West England. This fits with our focus on promoting regional airports as gateways to great English attractions outside London.”

Philippa Sutton, PR Manager at Visit Sweden, said: “We are delighted SAS is launching a new route between Bristol and Stockholm. 2013 was a fantastic year for Stockholm with the opening of the Abba Museum in May, and the re-opening of the Vasa Museum in April, and we are expecting even more interest in the Swedish capital in 2014. Stockholm has a huge amount to offer tourists, whether you want to go shopping for cool Scandinavian design and fashion, take a boat out onto the beautiful archipelago of islands or get a taste of the Swedish food scene.”

Hans Dyhrfort, SAS’s regional general manager Western Europe, commented:
“We are delighted to be launching a new summer route from Bristol to Stockholm. The Swedish capital is an amazing summer destination and is perfect both for a short city break or a longer stay. This new route also opens the whole of Scandinavia to travellers from the South West who can now fly directly to Stockholm from their doorstep.”

Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Airport, said:
“This is a great example of a direct service which not only improves connectivity for the South West, but brings valuable visitor spend to the tourism sector in this region as well. Today’s announcement by SAS also marks the return of this famous airline brand to the South West market after a five year absence.”

Bristol Airport is the UK’s fifth largest airport outside London and the ninth largest in the UK, handling 5.9 million passengers in 2012. It is the only airport in the UK’s top ten to see growth each year since the end of 2009. In August 2013, the Airport recorded the busiest month in its history, handling over 700,000 passengers.

Planning permission is in place to develop and enhance facilities to handle 10 million passengers per annum and development commenced on the first of more than 30 separate component projects – the construction of three new aircraft stands - in November 2011. A £6.5 million central walkway structure is currently under construction and, when completed in summer 2014, will ease departure lounge congestion and significantly enhance the passenger experience.

The number of foreign residents using Bristol Airport has almost trebled in the last decade, with over a million journeys made by overseas visitors in 2012. Analysis of data from the Civil Aviation Authority Passenger Survey showed that an estimated 18 per cent of the Airport’s 5.9 million passengers last year were resident outside the UK, indicating an upsurge in visits to the South West and South Wales.

http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/media-centre/news-releases/2013/11/sas.aspx

 

[Aviador]

SAS have been having a big drive on routes to the UK aiming at tourist traffic rather than business with new routes to Humberside and Leeds Bradford as well as Bristol. Hopefully it will work well for them.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bristol-Stockholm

The service will replicate the short summer seasons of 2007 and 2008 when SAS used mainly B 737-600 aircraft on the route. After the first season an SAS spokesman said that demand 'was very strong amongst business and leisure travellers alike' and that throughout the season the load factor was over 80%.

http://news.ebookers.com/news/sas-to-la ... route/878/

The success of the Stockholm route led the airline to add a B 737 Oslo service in summer 2008 at 3 x weekly (the Stockholm was then as next summer 2 x weekly) and for a much longer season. Both routes were scrapped after 2008 because of SAS's financial difficulties when nearly half its routes were axed in a major downsizing.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bristol-Stockholm

I saw a very large banner advertisement for this service exhibited very prominently at Temple Meads Station today. I also saw one of the Flyers with a large advertisement across the rear of the bus - there may be other Flyer buses with similar adverts.

Unsurprisingly the BRS website is giving the route plenty of exposure on its home page.

It's only a short season but it did extremely well last time it was tried (2007 and 2008) before SAS found themselves in serious difficulties as an airline and had to downsize substantially with many routes axed, including this one.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Stockholm

SAS returns to BRS tomorrow after an absence of six years with an arrival from Stockholm at 0840 with the return departing at 0920.

The 2 x weekly (Mon and Fri) service will operate until the middle of August using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

 

[superking]

With a friday and monday rotation, it gives for a nice w/end break and also flexable days as well. lets hope the service is well used, and hope they come back in 2015, with a longer series.

 

[Brum X]

Stockholm

SAS returns to BRS tomorrow after an absence of six years with an arrival from Stockholm at 0840 with the return departing at 0920.

The 2 x weekly (Mon and Fri) service will operate until the middle of August using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

This is not a pop at BRS, but how bizaare that SAS have now cancelled flights between BHX and ARN from today and wont be re-starting them after there usual summer break which has normally run between now and the end of August and have flights to BRS during this time ??????

What is the purpose of these flights into BRS for a few weeks ????? Tourists from Sweden to the South West Of England and Tourists to Sweden ?????

 

[TheLocalYokel]

This is not a pop at BRS, but how bizaare that SAS have now cancelled flights between BHX and ARN from today and wont be re-starting them after there usual summer break which has normally run between now and the end of August and have flights to BRS during this time ??????

What is the purpose of these flights into BRS for a few weeks ????? Tourists from Sweden to the South West Of England and Tourists to Sweden ?????

I suspect your last sentence is near the mark. SAS did the same in 2007 and 2008 with limited summer seasons to Stockholm (at 3 x weekly from memory) with Boeing 737s, mainly the 600 series. The result in 2007 exceeded their expectations, or so they said, so they introduced a BRS-Oslo service in summer 2008(again 3 x weekly from memory with Boeing 737s) that ran from early May through the summer, although Stockholm remained a limited season in 2008.

Despite the recession these services was expected to return in 2009 but SAS was encountering severe financial difficulties leading to major cost cutting initiatives that involved downsizing the fleet and route network. The BRS services were amongst those that were axed.

The only regular Scandinavian service currently operated from BRS is the 4 x weekly Copenhagen route with easyJet, although the same airline also flies 2 x weekly to Keflavik with Iceland sometimes being described as being in Scandinavia and sometimes not.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Further to recent posts, a press release on the BRS website today confirmed that the flights are aimed at tourist traffic both from Sweden to the West Country and from the West Country to Sweden. There has been a marketing campaign in Sweden funded by Bristol Airport, Destination Bristol, Bath Tourism Plus and VistEngland.

The full press release:

[textarea]Take off for Bristol - Stockholm flight

Historic welcome to West of England for Swedish visitors

Passengers on the inaugural Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight between Stockholm and Bristol today were welcomed by costumed characters from the West of England’s history.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel and a Georgian housekeeper posed for photos with delighted Swedes, representing two of the area’s most popular tourist attractions – Brunel’s SS Great Britain in Bristol and No.1 Royal Crescent in Bath.

Shaun Browne, Aviation Director at Bristol Airport, explained the unusual welcome:
“We wanted to give passengers on the first flight a flavour of the rich heritage the West of England has to offer. The combination of Bristol and Bath makes a fantastic break, combining history with contemporary culture and some fantastic visitor attractions, all within easy reach of Bristol Airport.”

The SAS service – the first direct link from the South West to the Swedish capital for five years - will operate twice a week (on Monday and Friday) until 15 August, using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The schedule has been designed with long weekend leisure breaks in mind, and is expected to prove equally popular with UK and Swedish travellers alike. Bringing the stylish Swedish capital just a 1hr 40 minute flight away, prices start from just £75 one way, or from £126 return, including all taxes and charges.

Convenient flight times mean west country residents need only take a half day’s holiday to enjoy a Swedish weekend break this summer, with flights departing at 14.35 on Friday afternoons and returning in time to impress workmates with Swedish tales on Monday morning, arriving into Bristol at 08.40.

Summer’s the perfect time to visit Stockholm, one of the world’s most beautiful capital cities. Built on 14 islands around one of Europe’s largest and best-preserved mediaeval city centres, Stockholm offers trend-setting restaurants and vibrant nightclubs, or step back to the seventies at ABBA The Museum, only opened in 2013. For culture vultures, there are masses of sights such as the Royal Palace and City Hall, or do as the locals do in summer and take an easy trip to Stockholm’s idyllic archipelago.

The route has been supported by a marketing campaign in Sweden funded by Bristol Airport, Destination Bristol, Bath Tourism Plus and VistEngland. With the potential to bring thousands of visitors to the West of England, it is estimated that the new flight could generate over £1 million for the local visitor economy.

The new flight will offer Scandinavian Airlines’ two class system that operates on all its flights within Europe. SAS Go offers great rates including a checked bag at no extra charge, newspapers, tea and coffee on board and several services to save time, including mobile check-in and seat selection. SAS Plus offers additional premium benefits including complimentary lounges, FastTrack check-in, complimentary food and drink, an additional piece of 23kg checked luggage and fully flexible tickets.

Bristol Airport is the fifth largest UK airport outside London, and the only airport in the UK’s top ten to see growth every year since 2009. The number of foreign residents using Bristol Airport has almost trebled in the last decade, with over one million journeys made by overseas visitors in 2012.[/textarea]

http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/media-c ... kholm.aspx

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I saw the aircraft operating today's Stockholm service and from a distance it didn't look like a B 737-800. A later check with FR24 revealed it to be a B 737-600, registration number LN-RGK.

Anno Aero did a short piece on the service recently and said it would be operated by the 600 series whereas the airport press announcement (see previous post) said it would be the 800 series and Mayfly has been showing an 800 series (including today) and does so for next week.

Was this a one-off today or was it always going to be a 600, despite what has been previously announced, or has a decision been taken to downgrade the type because of loads? Does anyone know?

 

[alphagolf]

I saw the aircraft operating today's Stockholm service and from a distance it didn't look like a B 737-800. A later check with FR24 revealed it to be a B 737-600, registration number LN-RGK.

Anno Aero did a short piece on the service recently and said it would be operated by the 600 series whereas the airport press announcement (see previous post) said it would be the 800 series and Mayfly has been showing an 800 series (including today) and does so for next week.

Was this a one-off today or was it always going to be a 600, despite what has been previously announced, or has a decision been taken to downgrade the type because of loads? Does anyone know?

To be honest I thought using a B737-800 was a bit adventurous, a B737-600 seems more of natural fit for a route that although has been flown before would need to build itself before using an aircraft as large as the B737-800.

It will be interesting to see what the loads were for the first flight into BRS and return to Stockholm were on the 30th June when the CAA Provisional Stats are released next week.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

To be honest I thought using a B737-800 was a bit adventurous, a B737-600 seems more of natural fit for a route that although has been flown before would need to build itself before using an aircraft as large as the B737-800.

It will be interesting to see what the loads were for the first flight into BRS and return to Stockholm were on the 30th June when the CAA Provisional Stats are released next week.

Looking back at old Mayflys the airline used the 600 series when it last flew between Bristol and Stockholm in summer 2008. Seat Guru shows the seating capacity on the 600 between 120 and 123 depending on the type of 600 (seems to be two with SAS) and 180-183 on the 800 (seems to be three variations of this one).

I have a recollection that load factors in 2008 averaged between 70% and 80% on the 2 x weekly Monday and Friday short summer service as now. SAS also flew to Oslo in summer 2008 for a much longer season at 3 x weekly with Boeing 737-700 aircraft (according to Mayfly*)

* Mayfly seems to be incorrect with the 800 this summer so may not be entirely reliable.

70% on the 123-seat 600 would be 86 passengers.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It will be interesting to see what the loads were for the first flight into BRS and return to Stockholm were on the 30th June when the CAA Provisional Stats are released next week.

CAA stats show 151 passengers on 30 June - an average load both ways of 75.5 or load factor of 61% if the 123-seat version of the B 736 was used.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

SAS Bristol-Stockholm

The short season (30 June-15 August) ended today.

July was the only full calendar month of the service and CAA stats show that the twice weekly flight (Mondays and Fridays) carried 1726 passengers which is an average load of 107.9.

Depending on the seating layout of the B 737-600 series used this would give a load factor of between 87.7% and 89.9% which is entirely satisfactory in my eyes. Of course, we don't know the yield.

 

[conns757]

Back s 15

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Now that is good news. Mrs Yokel visited Sweden on a school exchange (when the Swedes were still driving on the left) and has long expressed a wish to go back there to see how they are getting on driving on the right. She might get her wish next year.

 

[Aviador]

Sadly I can't say the same for our Leeds Scandinavian service after today's news but it's good to hear the Bristol service is returning for summer 15.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

If it's as this summer it will be a limited season for around six weeks in July and part of August.

It's aimed primarily at tourist traffic as my post back in June mentioned:

Further to recent posts, a press release on the BRS website today confirmed that the flights are aimed at tourist traffic both from Sweden to the West Country and from the West Country to Sweden. There has been a marketing campaign in Sweden funded by Bristol Airport, Destination Bristol, Bath Tourism Plus and VisitEngland.

BRS does also have easyJet Scandinavian services to Copenhagen (3/4 weekly) and Keflavik (2/3 weekly) both year round.

 

[alphagolf]

If it's as this summer it will be a limited season for around six weeks in July and part of August.

It's aimed primarily at tourist traffic as my post back in June mentioned:

Further to recent posts, a press release on the BRS website today confirmed that the flights are aimed at tourist traffic both from Sweden to the West Country and from the West Country to Sweden. There has been a marketing campaign in Sweden funded by Bristol Airport, Destination Bristol, Bath Tourism Plus and VisitEngland.

BRS does also have easyJet Scandinavian services to Copenhagen (3/4 weekly) and Keflavik (2/3 weekly) both year round.

No flight availability as yet, tweeted to SAS "will the BRS - ARL flights return in Summer 2015, if so when? What about a BRS - OSL flight too"

SAS tweeted back, "No date set yet when the new routes will be launched".

Not sure what to make of that response, could it be both routes will be back............... or maybe just a standard response from SAS.

Wait and see I guess...........

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Wait and see I guess...........

Yes. Some interesting posts from conns757 last Friday evening in a number of BRS threads.