LF LIN Destinations 39 (1992) Ceased operations 1993 | LIN SWEDLINE Parent company SAS AB Founded 1957 Fleet size 35 (1992) | |
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Key people Sven Östling (1957-1973)Sten Sandberg (1973-1978)Jan Carlzon (1978-1980)Olle Hedberg (1980-1983)Christer Magnusson (1984-1987)Christer Nilsson (1987-1992)Jan Sundling (1992-1993) Hubs Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Stockholm Bromma Airport | ||
Linjeflyg was formed in 1957 as a Swedish domestic airline by Swedish airlines Scandinavian Airlines System and Airtaco as well as by newspaper publishers Dagens Nyheter AB and Stockholms-Tidningen AB.
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History
Airtaco (founded in August 1950 as Aero Scandia) can be considered as Linjeflyg's predecessor and was merged into the new airline, including its entire fleet. When Linjeflyg was founded, Airtaco's four Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar and three Douglas DC-3 were integrated into the new fleet.
In October 1983 Linjeflyg moved from Stockholm-Bromma Airport in the central part of Stockholm to Stockholm-Arlanda Airport in the north of Stockholm. Bromma had been the main hub for Linjeflyg since 1957. On 10 September 1990 Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) sold their 50% in Linjeflyg to Bilspedition for 475 million Swedish crowns (SEK). Approximately six months later SAS bought it back.
In February 1992 Linjeflyg became too big a threat for SAS, because it planned a strategic alliance with Braathens and Maersk Air. Such an alliance would have been too competitive for SAS on the intra-Scandinavian capital routes and on domestic flights. Consequently SAS bought up the 50% of Linjeflyg that it did not already own, to maintain its market dominance. On 1 January 1993 Linjeflyg was merged into SAS. Linjeflyg was Sweden's largest domestic airline. It served over 20 domestic airports and carried over 5 million people annually. Linjeflyg had 2200 employees in 1992, and was at that time the largest Fokker F28 operator in the world.