Andrew Chuter/LONDON
CONTROL of Swedish charter operator Blue Scandinavia is to pass to Britannia Airways following the acquisition by Britannia's sister organisation, Thomson International, of Swedish tour operator Fritidsresor. The UK airline is also expanding its new charter operation in Germany.
Thomson International, part of the Canadian-owned Thomson Travel Group, still awaits European Commission approval of the £260 million ($427 million) deal to take over Fritidsresor, which owns Blue Scandinavia. A decision is expected by the end of the month, and the UK airline says that the five leased Boeing 757-200s operated by Blue Scandinavia will be renamed Britannia AB soon after go-ahead is received from Brussels.
Blue Scandinavia operates from Norwegian and Swedish airports to destinations in the Canaries, Israel and the Mediterranean on behalf of Fritidsresor. Long-haul destinations such as Thailand and the USA are served largely by Premiair. With the Danish carrier owned by Thomson UK's rival, Airtours, it seems unlikely that it will be long before Britannia, the world's largest charter operator, looks at duplicating its Boeing 767-300ER operations in Scandinavia. The UK airline concedes that there is room for expansion of the long-haul operations, but will say nothing else on the subject.
Blue Scandinavia was formed in 1996 following acquisition by Fritidsresor of the charter arm of Transwede. A Boeing 737-300 and a Boeing MD-83 acquired as part of that deal have recently been returned to the lessors.
Airline president Jan Carlzon, the former SAS boss, has resigned as a result of the take-over.
The deal Thomson Sweden has with Sterling European to lease a 737-800 from 1 May remains in place as a separate entity, at least for the time being.
The foray into Scandinavia follows a similar move by Britannia into the German market which got under way in November 1997, in tandem with local tour operator Frosch Touristik. A single 767-300ER has been in operation to the Dominican Republic from five cities in Germany. This will be joined by a second aircraft in May and further significant long-haul expansion is set for the northern winter, starting in November.
Britannia GmbH, which is partly owned by a German bank, is planning to have up to eight aircraft in operation by the end of the century. The fleet mix has not been finally decided and operation of short-haul aircraft has not been ruled out.
Source: Flight International
