Braathens is discontinuing its so-called Airbus operations that fly for charter companies such as Ving and Apollo. The goal since before was to gradually phase out the operations, but according to the company, the economic challenges became too tough.
"The financing that we have tried to get in place for a controlled phase-out has unfortunately not been successful and I understand that those who are affected are sad, shocked and disappointed. Now we have no other choice than to reorganize and focus on the part of the operations that can achieve long-term profitability", says Braathens owner Per G Braathen in a press release.
Flight by flight
All flights for tour operators are therefore cancelled immediately. Martina Krantz, press officer at Apollo, tells TT that the company is now working hard to find replacement flights.
We are taking it flight by flight, day by day right now, in parallel with looking at long-term solutions for the winter.
Braathens accounts for 20 percent of Apollo's flights from the Nordic countries. From Sweden, it involves eight flights this week and so far "almost all" have been resolved with replacement flights.
As a customer, one can feel safe that we will contact all affected customers as soon as we have more information, says Martina Krantz.
Claes Pellvik, communications manager at Ving, says that the bankruptcy came suddenly.
Now we are working very intensively to find alternative flight solutions. We had two departures this morning, from Norway and Denmark, we have found good solutions for them, he says.
Can be cancelled
Ving primarily uses Braathens for flights from smaller airports in Sweden, such as Borlänge, Umeå and Luleå. But also has some departures from Stockholm and Gothenburg.
The trips in the near future, the next two weeks, we are safe that we will find solutions for.
But the winter trips we need to come back to. There we cannot rule out that some flight series may need to be cancelled, but then you will of course get your money back, says Pellvik.
This week, Ving has seven flights with Braathens from Sweden. In total, the company would have accounted for 2 percent of the total trips for Ving during the winter season.
About 200 employees are affected by the bankruptcy, mainly pilots and cabin crew.
