All businesses in the travel and service industry are suffering right now. Airlines, travel agencies, hotels, spas, restaurants and event organisers are all facing extremely tough times, with many at risk of bankruptcy. At the same time, some operations are still running in Sweden. Here are some of the latest news.
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Swedavia implements action programme
Swedavia is implementing an action programme to adapt operations to a dramatic decline in the number of passengers. During March, the events surrounding COVID-19 accelerated and led to a sharp decline in demand for travel. In recent days, the decline in passenger numbers has been 70-90 per cent. Swedavia will immediately put 1,900 of its approximately 2,500 permanent employees on short-term leave until further notice. In addition, Swedavia is giving notice to 800 employees.
Where BRA continues to fly to
The airline BRA, which accounts for 30% of domestic air travel with flights to most cities in the country, is reducing the number of departures and routes from Monday 23 March. The airline will continue to fly between Stockholm Bromma and Malmö, Gothenburg, ÄngelholmVisby, Umeå and Östersund. The financial situation for BRA, which is a privately owned, wholly Swedish and unlisted company, is very, very strained but remains stable.
Tallink Silja reroutes for freight transport
Tallink Silja cancels normal traffic and redirects vessels to carry out freight transport. The vessels Baltic Princess and Galaxy will operate between Turku and Kapellskär for freight transport between Sweden and Finland. Travellers with a one-way ticket can join them if they are entitled to travel to Finland under the current rules. The Star ferry will operate between Estonia (Paldiski) and Germany (Sassnitz). The Romantika ferry has picked up Estonians and Latvians stranded in Germany.
Swedish ski resorts close After Ski
According to several newspapers, After Ski in Åre, Sälen, Branäs and Idre is now closed due to the coronavirus. On Idre Fjäll's website you can read that all entertainment activities are closed, which in addition to After Ski includes theatre and concerts. Idre Fjäll also writes that they are currently planning to be open as usual for the rest of the season.
More and more closures in Europe
The UD advises against travelling to all countries, but many Swedes are still in the south of Europe, as they may have travelled there long before the advisory came into force. In many countries, more and more restaurants, hotels and campsites are closing. Many people are trying to get home to Sweden, but it is not easy to get airline tickets.
If you drive your own car/camper van, you should be able to drive home and be allowed through closed borders, but it is difficult to know with certainty what rules apply from one day to the next. Spain has introduced a ban on travelling with more than one person per car. According to the newspaper Sydkusten, a camper van for tourists should also count as a residence, and you would comply with the quarantine by staying in it, even if there are two of you.
Reflection of the week
When you read that you need a special permit to take the ferry to Finland, it feels like war. This is not just about travelling, but about the continued welfare of Sweden and Europe. How do we get through this and how do we get everything going again?
Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Advice against travelling, camping tents and SJ trains in Norway
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Ama de casa says:
A terrible and disgusting situation!
However, I think some rules are still excessive here in Spain. Like we are not allowed to go out and walk except in special cases.
Then there's the fact that you can only take one person in the car. Out to the airport, for example, to go to your home country. If you live in the same household, this is ridiculous. If there are two people, one can take the car and the other a taxi. If there is more than one person, you have to take several taxis, because the taxi can only take one passenger.
To put it bluntly, more taxi drivers are exposed to the risk of infection.
Yet the buses still run? What is the rhyme and reason...
Well, yes. We follow the rules and respect the rules. This is not to say that we think everything is fine.
I feel terribly sorry for all the traders affected, both here and around the world. Where will this end?
23 March 2020 - 9:33
bmlarstravellingblog says:
I hardly know how to comment on your post and everything that is happening now.
We still think that Sweden has a good attitude when it comes to keeping schools open. Then we can only hope that parents take their responsibility and keep sick children at home just as they themselves stay at home when they have cold symptoms. Nobody knows how the future will unfold. We can only hope for the best. Here in Spain, the state of emergency with all the restrictions will probably last another 15 days.
Tomorrow we will leave our fenced area and head towards Alicante and the airport. Now we keep all fingers crossed that everything works so we arrive in Falköping late tomorrow evening.
23 March 2020 - 12:31
Lena - good for the soul says:
Yes, it really does feel like a state of war. It's sad to see everyone who is in a place other than "home" going home, even though they may not have intended to or even needed to. Then the infection should reasonably spread even more, I think. Swedes who are in Spain, Germany, Italy, etc. travelling home to Sweden or dismissed young people living in Stockholm going to parents living in less affected, or not at all affected areas. Hmm... I understand the feeling, but I think many people could think twice about it.
It will be really tough for many companies. We all have to try to help as best we can.
Hug Lena
23 March 2020 - 13:32
I Monica says:
Yes, Stockholm is the most dangerous place in the world. The fact is that in percentage terms, since the end of last week, this virus is evenly distributed in the country, but in absolute terms, of course, a higher figure where a fifth of Sweden's population lives. But in a small town, it can be very risky to shop, go to the VC, go by bus, go to any emergency, huh, no staff nurse to clinic manager is tested but many colds, coughs and sore throats, someone is finally tested who has already treated 100s of patients and this virus found. So it is dangerous to live, you can die from it ... And welcome home all Swedes to their own country! And be happy for the few sane people who still exist. What is worrying is all the healthcare staff, all the categories who work with the sick, but listen, they are exhausted and can't bear to think about it. They don't get a hearing either. It's dangerous to be a patient today, they have other illnesses and can get another one that terminates, applies to all ages. Society is falling but fortunately there are still strong Vikings, wise, creative, fearless, healthy.
23 March 2020 - 19:13
BP says:
So far, we here in Sweden are among the least affected countries in Europe, and by that I mean both restrictions and overloaded healthcare staff. Right now I feel that the situation is under control. Compared to poor Italy and Spain, we live a "luxury life" here.
I am bad at forecasting or "deep" thinking, but I have a feeling that the whole world will have to start from scratch... again.
23 March 2020 - 20:45
I Monica says:
I want to add that teachers are a very vulnerable profession, the children are not at home for cough and sore throat with a little fever, then their parents must be at home but they should continue to work as doctors, nurses, etc., many have those professions and as I said untested but with symptoms. And no principal may close on their own initiative so the whole school can become a hotbed of infection. Primary schools continue to run so the children's parents continue to take care of the sick. A bit of a bubble life not having any of these professions. I have all my admiration for those who have to take care of their fellow human beings. And want to do so. May this go somewhat well and have an end.
23 March 2020 - 21:05