Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and claimed to be the largest airline in Scandinavia, has announced a new service linking Bristol with Stockholm next summer, Bristol Airport said in a release.
Flights will operate twice a week, on Monday and Friday, from June 30 to August 15, 2014, using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The schedule, designed with long weekend leisure breaks, is expected to become popular with prospective travellers from both the UK and Sweden. For the last five years there have been no direct flight options from the South West of the UK to Stockholm.
Built on 14 islands, Stockholm is one of Europe’s most beautiful capital cities. The Swedish capital, with its 750-year history and rich cultural life, will now be a new city break option for many travellers in the region.
The route is expected to generate over £1 million for the local visitor economy, with VisitEngland, Destination Bristol and Bath Tourism Plus supporting Bristol Airport and SAS in promoting the new service.
Hans Dyhrfort, SAS’s regional general manager for 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.’
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.’
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. In August 2013, the airport recorded the busiest month in its history, handling over 700,000 passengers.
