Well, it’s a nice sunny day here in Sweden as usual on the Valborg eve. This is an ancient Swedish holiday celebrating a saint from the 8th century called Valborg, who apparently was a protector of farm fields. The younger citizens of Sweden do not take note of this interesting historical holiday, instead they take the opportunity to drink themselves sloshed and do lots of stupid things they regret the next day…
But that’s not important right now. I just want to show you some photos from Stockholm Arlanda Airport I took earlier today as I was searching the airport grounds for buildings and other stuff left since the early days of the airport in the 50s and 60s. Unfortunately I managed to mess up the settings of my camera, but here are some half-decent photos anyway, taken from not so usual places:
SAS’ 737-883 SE-DYT with special Star Alliance livery, strangely enough parked at the international Pier F at Terminal 5. This aircraft is normally only flying domestic routes and the odd charter in the weekends. It’s SAS’ newest 737 delivered on 21 December 2003.
A321-200 OY-KBF has just landed on runway 26 and is seen taxying to Terminal 5. SAS has eight A321’s mainly operating between Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen but they can be seen at LHR, FRA, CDG and MXP sometimes as well.
Blue1 (formerly Air Botnia) is a wholly-owned subsidiary to SAS, based in Finland. They operate a fleet of 5 Saab 2000 and a few RJ85 and RJ100 within the Nordic countries and to Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. Their Saab 2000s are shuttling between Finland and Stockholm and it’s not unusual to see several, or even the entire fleet, at Arlanda at one time. Today three of them were resting between flights at the regional commuter ramp in front of the SAS hangars. Here is OH-SAU…
…here is OH-SAT…
…and a closeup of the nose…
…and a third, unidentified, fleet colleague as well.
This Air Bosna MD-81 has been parked at Arlanda’s backyard for a year or so. It was impounded when the airline couldn’t afford to pay their bills for maintenance…
Transjet, a Swedish charter airline that went bankrupt a few years ago, operated three 747s and some MD-80s out of Sweden and the UK. Until this spring, the 747s were parked around the airport but during nighttime, two of them were flown to the UAE where they now are. The third will probably never fly again, it’s one hour short of D check and in miserable condition. In front of it is SE-DAI/852, the former SAS/Swedish Air Force Caravelle III now owned by Le Caravelle Club who intends to get here airborne again. It seems unlikely though.
And last but not least, the decapitated former SE-DAA, Caravelle III of SAS, which has been used for ground training of airport personnel since 1974. It had its nose cut off for tow training (the nose has recently been moved to Helsinki where it will be restored for a museum) and the aircraft is just an empty shell in terrible condition.
Better photos next time, if anyone is interested! Have a nice weekend…
By: wannabe pilot - 30th April 2004 at 17:19
Thanks for that Sonnenflieger, interesting. Typical how Ryanair have to fly 100km out of the city :rolleyes:
By: LBARULES - 30th April 2004 at 17:14
Absolutely brilliant photos from an airport we dont see photos from usually. If thats what the pictures are like when the settings on the camera are messed up… Well can’t imagine when theyre not. Seems like theres some really great spots for photography and spotting at Arlanda.
By: Sonnenflieger - 30th April 2004 at 16:54
Brilliant pictures! Particularly like the first shot of the Saab. What is Arlanda like in terms of PAX numbers and movements? It think Stockholm has 2 other airports, I’m guessing Arlanda is the busiest?
Arlanda constantly fights with Copenhagen for the title of being Europe’s fourth largest airport. In 2003, Arlanda had some 114,000 landings and handled 15.1 million passengers. It’s been declining the last few years but recent numbers for Q1 2004 showed that numbers are going up again which is good – the airport was expanded considerably just prior to the recession in 2001 with a new pier (Pier F seen on the first photo), new control tower and new ATC Centre.
The other airports in the Stockholm area are Bromma (BMA), 8 kms from the city centre, opened in 1936 and still very much active (Malmö Aviation has its main base there). Since a few years the former F11 Wing air base at Nyköping (100 kms south of the city) is busy with Ryanair running its Swedish hub operations there, although the airport is now called Skavsta (NYO). Last but not least, the former F1 Wing air base at Västerås officially became a Stockholm airport in 2001, some 110 kms NW of the city. Other than charters, Ryanair and Skyways operate to Stansted and Copenhagen respectively from Stockholm-Västerås (VST).
@SHAMROCK321: Well, we all have different tastes! I don’t like our colours at all (I am an SAS employee), they look awful although the cabin designs and uniforms are very nice…
By: wannabe pilot - 30th April 2004 at 16:35
Brilliant pictures! Particularly like the first shot of the Saab. What is Arlanda like in terms of PAX numbers and movements? It think Stockholm has 2 other airports, I’m guessing Arlanda is the busiest?
By: SHAMROCK321 - 30th April 2004 at 16:07
SAS is my favourtie colors I just love them so much espeically the A321.In my opinion thats the nicest plane around.We used to et them here in Dublin for a while now we get the MD80s which also look nice and modern in the SAS colors.
Well doen on those great great pictures.
By: Sonnenflieger - 30th April 2004 at 15:44
Yes, SE-RBH is now registered 3D-NEF and was last seen in Oman in March…
By: A330Crazy - 30th April 2004 at 15:34
Some great pictures! The pics of the Sa 2000’s are great. Shame about that Caravelle in the last pic, though on the bright side its still wanted in a way – towing purposes and the nose has gone to a museum. 🙂
I remember seeing a Transjet 742 parked up at LGW a few years back after they had just gone bankrupt (SE-RBH). Think that one has now gone from Sweden?
Once again nice pics, and thanks for sharing them with us. 😎
By: BigVince76 - 30th April 2004 at 15:33
Nice work mate
By: Mark L - 30th April 2004 at 14:37
Very interesting!
By: Bmused55 - 30th April 2004 at 14:22
Such a shame to see such a woderfull aircraft in such condition. Either scrap it or keep it clean I way.
Sahme about the 747 too.
But, on the lighter side, Brilliant photos and excellent information.
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April 30, 2004 at 2:12 pm