Robert Lindberg, head of Skellefteå Airport. Here interviewed by Norran's reporter Veronika Åström.
SAS, which now is the only larger domestic airline flying to and from Skellefteå, plans to reduce the number of seats by around 58,000 this autumn.
– This is of course very unfortunate and we hope SAS will change its decision, alternatively that other airlines will want to fly to Skellefteå.
Skellefteå municipality bought the airport 20 years ago for SEK 1 from the Civil Aviation Administration. Since then the airport has never made a profit but instead ended each year with a loss. Lindberg explains to SVT:
– We are estimating a loss of SEK 30 million this year. That is a loss increase of SEK 8-10 million compared to 2024.
Even though it is possible to find flights to Umeå and Luleå for a fraction of the price compared to Skellefteå, Lindberg highlights the importance of the airport:
– Skellefteå and the industry needs the airport, the municipality is aware of that. It’s too tough to get up at three in the morning and go to Umeå to take the first flight, Robert Lindberg concludes.