Transwede McDonnell Douglas MD-80
Transwede was founded in 1985 in Sweden as a charter service, flying Swedes to more warmer climates for package vacations, initially with two Sud-Aviation Caravelles. It first partnered with and then acquired Royal Tours.
Transwede did well enough that by 1990 it was ready to challenge the much larger SAS and Linjeflyg in scheduled operations in Sweden and beyond. International operations from SAS's parent countries--Sweden, Norway and Denmark--were held by that airline, but Transwede used a loophole to get permission to fly to London-Gatwick from Stockholm: Denmark had allowed Maersk Air the same privilege. Transwede was able to offer more frequent flights at a cheaper rate. It partnered with Sterling Airways and Norway Airlines to increase its market share and flights to London.
With the demise of Linjeflyg in 1993 (and its absorption by SAS), this led to the deregulation of the Swedish domestic market. Transwede had been operating at a loss for several years, mainly due to its charter services competing in a very crowded market. As a result, its charter service was spun off to become Blue Scandinavia, and Transwede itself was acquired by Norway-based Braathens SAFE in 1997 and the Transwede name retired.
This Transwede MD-80 shows the airline's primary livery, used throughout most of its career. At one time, Transwede operated the longest scheduled MD-80 service in the world, from Stockholm to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, via Oslo and Gander, Newfoundland.
Transwede McDonnell Douglas MD-80
Transwede was founded in 1985 in Sweden as a charter service, flying Swedes to more warmer climates for package vacations, initially with two Sud-Aviation Caravelles. It first partnered with and then acquired Royal Tours.
Transwede did well enough that by 1990 it was ready to challenge the much larger SAS and Linjeflyg in scheduled operations in Sweden and beyond. International operations from SAS's parent countries--Sweden, Norway and Denmark--were held by that airline, but Transwede used a loophole to get permission to fly to London-Gatwick from Stockholm: Denmark had allowed Maersk Air the same privilege. Transwede was able to offer more frequent flights at a cheaper rate. It partnered with Sterling Airways and Norway Airlines to increase its market share and flights to London.
With the demise of Linjeflyg in 1993 (and its absorption by SAS), this led to the deregulation of the Swedish domestic market. Transwede had been operating at a loss for several years, mainly due to its charter services competing in a very crowded market. As a result, its charter service was spun off to become Blue Scandinavia, and Transwede itself was acquired by Norway-based Braathens SAFE in 1997 and the Transwede name retired.
This Transwede MD-80 shows the airline's primary livery, used throughout most of its career. At one time, Transwede operated the longest scheduled MD-80 service in the world, from Stockholm to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, via Oslo and Gander, Newfoundland.