ex-VLM and other Fokker 50s at Swedish Amapola Flyg, future.

[Stratofreighter]

http://atwonline.com/airframes/swedish- ... fokker-50s

Dec 11, 2018

For many years, Amapola Flyg’s main business
has been to provide the Swedish mail service with airfreight services.
However, CEO Erik Salén told the carrier is widening its scope
to include passenger services as the mail business shrinks.

“For that purpose, we have now bought all six of VLM’s pax F50s,
[for a total of] 13 freight F50s and nine pax aircraft.”

Despite the design’s age,
Salén said he believes the aircraft could still be useful for Amapola.

“Going forward, we believe in the F50 for many years to come,” he said.

“Primarily, this is based on the fact that the competition is diminishing,
with no new aircraft having been manufactured in the last 25 years in the 50-seat segment.

“As we do our own line and base maintenance,
we will aim to stay competitive with low capital costs and
keep maintenance costs under control
by keeping the aircraft in good shape and being entrepreneurial in buying spare parts,” he said.

In the near future, he added,
the company plans to sell some of its F50 freighters
to make the fleet mix equally balanced between cargo and passenger versions.

Currently, Amapola’s passenger services include four aircraft on wet-lease to BRA flyg,
as well as two PSO contracts—Essential Air Services in US parlance—
with the Swedish government in the north of the Scandinavian nation under its Direktflyg brand.

http://atwonline.com/airframes/swedish- ... fokker-50s