Avies (Tallinn Lennart Meri) and its contract with the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) have come under increasing fire from Swedish pilot and flight technician unions, Pilotförening and Flygteknikerförening, over the Estonian carrier's alleged poor maintenance standards.
Sveriges radio reports that the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (Statens HaveriKommission - SHK) uncovered several instances of poorly maintained aircraft following the conclusion of Avies' northern Swedish commuter contract this summer.
Despite Trafikverket having fined the carrier, Avies has continued to operate its Jetstream 31s as the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen), the entity responsible for designating government contracts, has yet to move against the Estonian carrier.
Flygteknikerförening, meanwhile, has set about establishing its own airline to secure Avies' contractual work which includes flights between Sveg, Luleå, Stockholm Arlanda, Torsby, Mora Siljian, Hagfors, Östersund, and Sundsvall-Härnösand.
Last week, police in Jämtland County embargoed its members from flying with Avies.
