Finland's Snowbird leasing an A320 from Latvia's SmartLynx

Finland's Snowbird suspends operations until February

Snowbird Airlines (SBW, Helsinki Vantaa) has suspended flights until January 31, 2015. Though no specific reason for the suspension was given, it is believed the crisis with Russia and its associated economic downturn has played a significant role.

"Although the decision to suspend operations was a tough one to make, it was the right one. This break will allow us to revise our strategy and adapt it to a changing and competitive market before returning to operations later next year, when our foundation has stabilized," CEO Marja Aalto said.

In a statement, the virtual carrier said operations would tentatively resume on February 1 with 2x weekly Oulu to Malaga via Helsinki Vantaa and Enontekio to London Gatwick via Ivalo flights. The Enontekio to Helsinki via Ivalo route will also resume operations.

Snowbird charters a solitary A320-200, YL-LCA (cn 333), from SmartLynx Airlines (6Y, Riga) for its operational requirements. It plans to secure its own Air Operators Certificate during the course of 2015.

Finland's Snowbird to cancel some Spanish services

Snowbird Airlines (SBW, Helsinki Vantaa) has cancelled its Lappeenranta and Oulu operations with immediate effect citing Russian tour operators decision to discontinue tours connecting Lappeenranta with Alicante, Spain.

Finland's YLE Newswire says, beginning this October, the Finnish charter carrier had planned to offer flights from the northern Finnish city of Oulu to Malaga and Alicante as well as from Lappeenranta to Alicante.

Airline CEO Marja Aalto said that since the Russian tour operator's decision to withdraw from the deal, no suitable replacement had yet been found leaving the carrier no choice but to suspend the flights. While the hunt goes on for a replacement, Aalto reassured passengers that flights to Spain from Helsinki Vantaa would go ahead as planned.

Flights between Enontekio and London Gatwick have now been postponed until December at the behest of British tour operators.

The carrier has also said that it is in talks with Budapest Aircraft Services (RP, Budapest) concerning the use of its E120 on flights between...

Finnish start-up, Snowbird Airlines, to serve Malaga from autumn

Snowbird Airlines (SBW, Helsinki Vantaa) will launch services this autumn with flights from Helsinki Vantaa to Malaga on October 2. Thereafter, additional flights from the northern city of Enontekio to Helsinki and London Gatwick will follow on November 25.

Denmark's CHECK-IN.dk reports that the carrier will charter an aircraft initially while it pursues its own Air Operators Certificate. Once secured, it will then begin operating its own A320.

Headed by former Air Finland (OF, Helsinki Vantaa) employees, Snowbird also intends to enter the ad-hoc charter and ACMI services sector.

Finnish start-up, Snowbird Airlines, to launch with Summer charter ops

Snowbird Airlines (SBW, Helsinki Vantaa) has revised its launch plans and is now looking to commence operations this Summer. According to YLE, the start-up, staffed by various ex-Air Finland (OF, Helsinki Vantaa) employees, is now planning to operate charter flights from provincial Finnish airports to the Mediterranean on behalf of tour operators. Original plans to serve Gazipasa, Turkey have now been dropped owing to market saturation said chief executive Marja Aalto. “We will start with the help of a cooperation partner so that we can begin with a rather light programme and won’t need to have our own plane to fill a certain number of flights from the very beginning,” she said. Local tour operators say that poor connections to northern Finnish airports limit inbound travel to the north. During the next winter season, Snowbird plans to bring vacationers directly from central Europe. The airline's first aircraft, an A320-200, is expected in Europe in the next 6 months.