newstodate.aero
DEC 19, 2003 (newstodate): Swedish Post-owned airline Falcon Air makes a 180 degree turn in announcing its decision to pull out of the air cargo business from 2006, retreating to a role as dedicated passenger airline.
This is in stark contrast to the existing strategy, announced only in July this year, when the airline proclaimed it would from on now focus entirely on airfreight, and cut off passenger transportation from mid-November 2003.
The basic role of Falcon Air has been nightly transport of mail for Swedish Post, utilizing its fleet of three Boeing 737-300QC for charter operations by Swedish tour operators during the daytime. The fleet also comprises one ART42-300 in pure freighter configuration.
-Post Sweden has decided that it needs smaller aircraft with a freight capacity at three to eight tonnes for its mail transport purpose, and it has now decided to work instead with a new airline, Amapola Flyb AB, currently being set up as a subsidiary of family-owned Salenia AB, says Rolf Johansson, Falcon Air managing director.
Johansson says Falcon Air's lease contracts expire by 2006. Until then Falcon Air will continue to operate for Post Sweden, while the new Amapola Flyg will be built up to take over these responsibilities.
According to Johansson, Falcon Air will now monitor the passenger airline market to define the future role of the company in an increasingly competitive market.
This is in stark contrast to the existing strategy, announced only in July this year, when the airline proclaimed it would from on now focus entirely on airfreight, and cut off passenger transportation from mid-November 2003.
The basic role of Falcon Air has been nightly transport of mail for Swedish Post, utilizing its fleet of three Boeing 737-300QC for charter operations by Swedish tour operators during the daytime. The fleet also comprises one ART42-300 in pure freighter configuration.
-Post Sweden has decided that it needs smaller aircraft with a freight capacity at three to eight tonnes for its mail transport purpose, and it has now decided to work instead with a new airline, Amapola Flyb AB, currently being set up as a subsidiary of family-owned Salenia AB, says Rolf Johansson, Falcon Air managing director.
Johansson says Falcon Air's lease contracts expire by 2006. Until then Falcon Air will continue to operate for Post Sweden, while the new Amapola Flyg will be built up to take over these responsibilities.
According to Johansson, Falcon Air will now monitor the passenger airline market to define the future role of the company in an increasingly competitive market.