Regional Routes at Risk as Braathens Regional Airlines Shifts Focus
Several regional routes in Sweden face potential elimination following Braathens Regional Airlines’ (BRA) decision to transition flights from Stockholm Bromma Airport to Stockholm Arlanda Airport. This change is part of a wet-lease agreement with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), raising concerns from Swedish Regional Airports (SRA).
SRA reports that this move could jeopardize services to smaller regional airports, leaving them without scheduled flights. “After the turn of the year, BRA will basically phase out its entire route network to all our regional airports, even if some are re-emerging,” the organization stated. Routes to Växjö, Kristianstad, Halmstad, and Kalmar are particularly at risk, with seasonal flights to Sälen also set to end. Although SAS may consider returning to Halmstad and Kalmar, the future remains uncertain.
While SRA acknowledges the necessity of this collaboration due to the financial struggles of both BRA and SAS, it warns that BRA’s shift to focus on more profitable operations for SAS will leave regional airports vulnerable. The organization emphasizes that this could adversely affect accessibility and regional growth, highlighting broader challenges in Swedish domestic aviation. Airline capacity from and within Sweden is projected at about 2.1 million seats in September 2024, a 23% decrease compared to 2019 levels.
The Swedish government’s decision to eliminate a tax on airline tickets from July 2025 may provide some improvement, but SRA notes that the “flight shame” movement continues to impact domestic air travel.
SRA also points to biofuels as a crucial element in preserving regional routes, urging travelers, businesses, and government bodies to invest in this sustainable option. “We must spread the knowledge that it is possible to fly fossil-free,” the organization asserts.
The announcement of BRA’s departure from Bromma serves as a significant warning. “If we don’t start flying again in Sweden, more routes will disappear, and the entire aviation industry risks being impoverished. However, we have the solutions in our own hands. We can increase flying, and we can do it sustainably.”
BRA and SAS unveiled their new wet-lease partnership on September 17, under which BRA will operate several aircraft for SAS, focusing on key domestic routes. However, the transition from Bromma to Arlanda raises concerns about the future of the former airport, which currently sees BRA account for about 95% of scheduled capacity. For smaller regional airports not managed by state-owned Swedavia, BRA holds a capacity share of 39% at Växjö, 100% at Kristianstad, 78% at Halmstad, and 64% at Kalmar.