Rising fuel prices linked to the situation at the Strait of Hormuz are forcing Swedish airline Populair to halt flights between Örnsköldsvik and Arlanda from June 12. This leaves Örnsköldsvik airport without regular connections, with the industry warning of more such cases. Regional operators are raising prices or pausing operations.
Airline Populair, which has operated the Örnsköldsvik–Arlanda route for some time, recently announced that all flights will cease from June 12. The main reason is sharply rising fuel prices linked to the situation at the Strait of Hormuz.
This decision leaves Örnsköldsvik airport entirely without regular flight connections. Peter Larsson, CEO of the Swedish Regional Airports association, warns that such outcomes may become more common. “We are worried about these fuel prices, not just as an effect in the form of paused or cancelled flights but that it becomes like in Örnsköldsvik where entire routes are shut down. It's stark that we have more airports at risk of losing traffic than those that have it,” he says.
This spring, Trafikverket has proposed closing five of twelve state-subsidised routes ahead of 2027, such as Arlanda–Kramfors and Arlanda–Mora. SAS has already announced cancellations due to higher costs. Larsson fears airports like Kalmar, Halmstad, and Sundsvall could be affected if the energy crisis persists. “I am most worried about Sundsvall,” he adds.
Smaller carriers like Västflyg, operating Stockholm–Trollhättan and Stockholm–Växjö, have raised ticket prices by a couple of hundred kronor on the Växjö route, VD Anna Petre told TT. No routes are being cancelled for now. “We have almost full morning departures from both Växjö and Trollhättan,” she says.
