The company Västflyg was formed in 2021 after the aviation giant Bra shut down its service between Trollhättan and Bromma in Stockholm. Västflyg leases an aircraft and during 2023 approximately 16,000 passengers traveled with the company, the majority of whom were business travelers, according to the company’s annual report.
– After the pandemic, the airline Bra announced that they did not intend to take up the route to Stockholm again. Then came the initiative to unite the public and business worlds in order to create a new line, says Anna Petren, CEO of Västflyg in Trollhättan AB.
Same difficulties as Växjö airport
Växjö airport has contacted Västflyg, as they see the possibility of the same solution when Bra stops flying at the turn of the year.
– Above all, I have asked about what obstacles they had in the start-up. We will not reinvent the wheel, so to speak, and I am open to a collaboration. But it is really a question for the business world to decide how to proceed in this, says Ulf Axelsson, CEO of Småland Airport Växjö.
Västflyg does not reach profitability today, but Anna Petren believes that a similar concept can be built in Växjö with a greater chance of reaching profitability because the customer base is somewhat larger.
Business has a decisive role
On Monday, the airport’s owner, Växjö municipality and Region Kronoberg will hold a meeting with the business community.
– It is a meeting to get more concrete answers from possible stakeholders about forming a “Stockholm group” that is willing to start the company. We will fully support such a project, says Ulf Axelsson.
In the video below, CEO Ulf Axelsson tells more about the project.