SAS - Scandinavian Airlines

[TheLocalYokel]

Now confirmed re next summer Bristol-Stockholm. See very bottom of linked article. It's under the heading 'Re-opened Peak Summer Routes'.

http://www.sasgroup.net/en/sas-launches ... utes-2015/

 

[alphagolf]

SAS Bristol to Stockholm Summer 2015 flights now on sale.

Flights operate Mondays and Fridays as per Summer 2014 and operate from Friday 26th June 2015 through to Friday 14th August 2015.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The airport has now issued a press release regarding the return of SAS to Stockholm next summer. Days and timings appear the same as this summer.

[textarea]Bristol - Stockholm flight returns

Scandinavian Airlines has announced direct flights between Bristol and Stockholm for summer 2015, following a successful first summer season in 2014. Ideal for weekend breaks, twice weekly flights on Friday and Mondays will commence on 26 June and continue until 14 August, with prices starting from just £126 return, including all taxes and charges. Tickets are on sale now and those booking early will secure the lowest prices.

Convenient flight times mean west country residents need only take a half day’s holiday to enjoy a Swedish summer weekend break, 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:

Flight Dep. Arr. Day of the week
Bristol to Stockholm 09.20 12.50 Monday
Bristol to Stockholm 14.35 18.05 Friday
Stockholm to Bristol 07.10 08.40 Monday
Stockholm to Bristol 12.25 13.55 Friday

Prices start from £74 one way, or from £126 return, in SAS Go, the airline’s economy service, which includes all taxes and charges, a checked bag at no extra cost, newspapers, coffee and tea on board and several services to save time, including mobile check-in and seat selection.

The 2015 flights have been confirmed following a successful first summer season for the route in 2014. Shaun Browne, Aviation Director at Bristol Airport, comments, “We’re delighted to welcome the return of SAS to Bristol Airport for summer 2015, following such strong bookings in 2014. Not only does the route offer an excitingdestination option to west-country residents, but it also brings significant numbers of Scandinavian holidaymakers here too”.

David Jackson, Head of Marketing at Bath Tourism Plus said, “This is fantastic news for Bath and the wider region. Last summer we saw a significant increase in the number of visitors to Bath from Sweden thanks to these flights, so we’re looking forward to an equally successful service in 2015.”

Kathryn Davis, Head of Tourism at Destination Bristol added, “We are delighted that SAS will be returning to Bristol Airport for the summer following such a successful first year. There is a genuine interest in Bristol and Bath as short break destinations for Scandinavian visitors and the packed summer event programme during 2015 will give even more reasons to visit.”

For local residents looking for a short break destination, 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.[/textarea]
http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/media-c ... 1/sas.aspx

 

[Marko1]

First flights start this evening to Stockholm

 

[TheLocalYokel]

First flights start this evening to Stockholm

Good to see them back even if it is for a limited season again.

Wizz Air and now SAS pitching up on the same day.

 

[alphagolf]

With SAS in the midst of their 2nd Summer season on the BRS - ARL route, wonder if they are considering a return to the Summer BRS - OSL.

I will be interesting to see the CAA Stats when published to give an idea of LF on this years flights.

 

[jfy1999]

Scandinavia tends to do rather poorly from UK airports. Manchester has seen reductions from Norwegian and BHX had Stockholm with SAS and then Blue1 for a couple of seasons before it was dropped.
So Bristol seems to be doing quite well.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

With SAS in the midst of their 2nd Summer season on the BRS - ARL route, wonder if they are considering a return to the Summer BRS - OSL.

I will be interesting to see the CAA Stats when published to give an idea of LF on this years flights.

We shall have to wait until July's stats though to get a definitive idea. Last year July (the only complete calendar month in which the flight operated in 2014) saw a load factor of 86-90%, depending on which version of the airline's B 737-600 operated.

Given that back in 2008 SAS operated Oslo for a full summer season at 3 x weekly but only ever operated Stockholm 2 x weekly (in 2007, 2008, 2014 and this year) and for an extremely limited season (end of June till mid August) it might be presumed that (back in 2007/2008 anyway) the airline saw Oslo as a bigger route from BRS.

Unless SAS was disappointed with the Oslo returns (loads seemed pretty good) it might be considered something of a surprise that Stockholm was brought back but not Oslo.

Had SAS not suffered serious financial problems in 2009 when its fleet was substantially reduced and its route network cut my 40% (including the Bristol routes) who knows how these routes might have developed (always taking into account the recession of course)?

Scandinavia tends to do rather poorly from UK airports. Manchester has seen reductions from Norwegian and BHX had Stockholm with SAS and then Blue1 for a couple of seasons before it was dropped.
So Bristol seems to be doing quite well.

The Stockholm route is considered mainly a tourist one - from both ends - and when it was brought back last summer the Bristol and Bath tourism authorities, as well as Bristol Airport, gave it some concentrated publicity in the Swedish capital.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

June 2015 Passenger Numbers

359 passengers were carried on the two rotations (four legs) in June that began on Friday 26th of the month.

This gives an average load of 89.75. Depending whether the 120-seat or 123-seat B 737-600 is used the load factor would be either 74.8% or 73%.

Last year there was only one rotation in June when the average load on both sectors was 75.5 (load factor in the low 60s%) so a good start with real hopes of a surge into the high 80s-low 90s% in July if last year is anything to go by.

 

[alphagolf]

SAS have released its Summer 2016 flights for Sale.

Flights commence on Monday 27th June 2016, operating Monday and Friday as per Summer's 2014 and 2015.

Can't determine the length of next years Summer schedule as currently the booking engine only extends into July 2016.

 

[alphagolf]

SAS have released its Summer 2016 flights for Sale.

Flights commence on Monday 27th June 2016, operating Monday and Friday as per Summer's 2014 and 2015.

Can't determine the length of next years Summer schedule as currently the booking engine only extends into July 2016.

Interestingly, Summer School Holidays in Sweden run from 8th June to the 16th August 2015, hence the length of the summer series between BRS and ARN.

The only extension possible would be to start the series earlier as of the start of the summer break, also if the current Monday and Friday flights become full they may look at adding frequencies over extending the series length.

But overall good to see it returning for its third Summer season :good:

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Interestingly, Summer School Holidays in Sweden run from 8th June to the 16th August 2015, hence the length of the summer series between BRS and ARN.

The only extension possible would be to start the series earlier as of the start of the summer break, also if the current Monday and Friday flights become full they may look at adding frequencies over extending the series length.

But overall good to see it returning for its third Summer season

The route was certainly heavily promoted as a leisure route, to both ends. Perhaps it's a question of aircraft availability with, say, a business route reduced or suspended in the school holidays in Sweden to make way for the BRS route.

The Stockholm route began in summer 2007 for a similar short season to the current programme which was more or less replicated in 2008. However, in 2008 SAS also began an Oslo route that operated 3 x weekly for the entire summer.

The recession and SAS's severe financial problems and major downsizing led to both routes being axed in 2009 and it took until last summer (2014) for the short season Stockholm to return.

Oslo would certainly be a good capture for the airport if it was to return.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Loads

The SAS Stockholm signed off today after another short season.

July, as before, was the only full calendar month in which the service operated.

CAA stats show that 1962 passengers were carried in July, an average load of 109. Depending on the type of B 736 used this equates to a load factor of 88.6% or 90.8%.

In July 2014 1726 passengers were carried (there was one less rotation than this year), which gave an average load of 107.9 - load factor of 87.7% or 89.9%.

 

[Marko1]

The twice weekly Stockholm service appears to be dropped for next summer or at least has been withdrawn from sale

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The twice weekly Stockholm service appears to be dropped for next summer or at least has been withdrawn from sale

That will be a shame. It's only a very short season but passenger loads were very good this year and last. The fares didn't look particularly cheap when I looked either.

BRS not having too much luck with Nordic countries at the moment with CPH being reduced and KEF seemingly not being sold after next April although there must be a strong chance that it will return for winter 16/17.