Soder Airlines
Encyclopedia
Soder Aviation Oy was originally a full-fledged airline (Soder Airlines) with an operator's certificate, and later, after a name change, a virtual airline
and internet booking agency based in Tampere
, Finland
. Its CEO was Tapani Yli-Saunamäki. Its main base was at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport
(TMP), Tampere. There was an additional base established early 2006 at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport
, since there were no routes to/from Tampere at that time.
and operated by Aviapaslauga from Lithuania
and one aircraft operated by a Swedish
company Nextjet
. Soder Airlines previous operator's license was cancelled by CAA of Finland. The charter company status was revoked by the Finnish Consumer Agency due to lack of collateral required. The company ceased flights for the summer season of 2005.
For the spring skiing season of 2006, Soder Aviation started selling tickets for three weekly flights from Helsinki
to Kittilä
and back. Flights were to be operated by Alexandair
(of Greece
), airline code AXN, between February 18 and May 1, 2006 using an ex-Austrian Airlines
MD-81, SX-BMP.
However, only some 3 initial return flights between Helsinki and Kittilä by operator Alexandair were actually flown and further flights cancelled for undisclosed reasons. On March 11, 2006, Soder Aviation Ltd publicly announced plans to sell tickets for the Helsinki-Kittilä route using a semi-convertible 40-seat An-72 cargo aircraft, which was to be operated by Enimex
of Estonia
. This plan was immediately rejected by the CAA of Finland due to the CAA's understanding that the type certificate of this An-72 did not allow for scheduled passenger flights in Finnish airspace.
After this decision by the Finnish Civil Aviation Authority, Soder Aviation cancelled all planned flights for the rest of the spring skiing season.
Due to previous officially published debts (amounting to approximately Euro
1 million), the Finnish financial authorities seized a substantial amount of funds from 2 Soder Aviation bank accounts in early March, which placed the company in a difficult financial position. Recently, on April 4, 2006, Soder Aviation Ltd. filed for bankruptcy at Helsinki District Court. The court approved the start of bankruptcy on April 7. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the company will continue to operate in its present form in the future.
In 2007, the airline code OY passed to an Argentinian regional company, Andes Líneas Aéreas, operating line and charter flights in the northern areas of Argentina.
, and Oulu
and from Helsinki to Kittilä and Ivalo directly or via Tampere during the winter skiing seasons. International flights originally planned did not materialize. In 2006, the only planned route (operated by Alexandair) was Helsinki-Kittilä, originally scheduled to last until May 1 (the end of the Finnish skiing season).
Virtual Airline (economics)
In economics, a virtual airline is an airline that has outsourced as many possible operational and business functions as it can, but still maintains effective control of its core business. Such an airline focuses on operating a network of air services, and outsourcing non-core activities to other...
and internet booking agency based in Tampere
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Its CEO was Tapani Yli-Saunamäki. Its main base was at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport
Tampere-Pirkkala Airport
Tampere-Pirkkala Airport is located in Pirkkala, south-west of Tampere city centre. The airport is the third busiest airport in Finland, as measured by the number of passengers , and the second busiest airport in Finland, as measured by the number of international passengers...
(TMP), Tampere. There was an additional base established early 2006 at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
Helsinki Airport or Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is the main international airport of the Helsinki metropolitan region and the whole of Finland. It is located in Vantaa, Finland, about west of Tikkurila, the centre of Vantaa, and north of Helsinki city centre...
, since there were no routes to/from Tampere at that time.
History
The airline was established and started operations in 2003. It suspended operations after Saab Aircraft terminated its lease, but restarted in February 2005 under a new name, Soder Aviation Oy (Ltd) using one MD-82 wet-leased from Bulgarian Air CharterBulgarian Air Charter
Bulgarian Air Charter is a charter airline based in Sofia, Bulgaria. It operates charter services for tour operators between the two Bulgarian Black Sea airports Burgas Airport, Varna Airport and in winter season to Plovdiv Airport and Sofia Airport to European countries. Its main base is Sofia...
and operated by Aviapaslauga from Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and one aircraft operated by a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
company Nextjet
Nextjet
NextJet is the largest regional airline in Sweden. The company is based in Frösundavik just north of Stockholm.NextJet serve most of their domestic destinations from Stockholm-Arlanda Airport. As of summer 2010 they also serve a lot of domestic destinations from Stockholm-Bromma Airport on the...
. Soder Airlines previous operator's license was cancelled by CAA of Finland. The charter company status was revoked by the Finnish Consumer Agency due to lack of collateral required. The company ceased flights for the summer season of 2005.
For the spring skiing season of 2006, Soder Aviation started selling tickets for three weekly flights from Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
to Kittilä
Kittilä
Kittilä is a municipality of Finland and a popular holiday resort.It is located in the province of Lapland, Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
and back. Flights were to be operated by Alexandair
Alexandair
Alexandair was a charter airline headquartered in Athens, Greece. It operated charter services on a wet-lease basis for major tour operators. Its main base was Heraklion International Airport. The airline suspended operations in September 2007.- History :...
(of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
), airline code AXN, between February 18 and May 1, 2006 using an ex-Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Austria, headquartered in Office Park 2 on the grounds of Vienna International Airport in Schwechat, Wien-Umgebung and a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Together with regional subsidiary Tyrolean Airways and charter arm Lauda Air, it operates...
MD-81, SX-BMP.
However, only some 3 initial return flights between Helsinki and Kittilä by operator Alexandair were actually flown and further flights cancelled for undisclosed reasons. On March 11, 2006, Soder Aviation Ltd publicly announced plans to sell tickets for the Helsinki-Kittilä route using a semi-convertible 40-seat An-72 cargo aircraft, which was to be operated by Enimex
Enimex
Enimex is an airline based in Tallinn, Estonia. It operates cargo and passenger charter flights, and wet lease operations worldwide. Its main base is Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport.-History:...
of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. This plan was immediately rejected by the CAA of Finland due to the CAA's understanding that the type certificate of this An-72 did not allow for scheduled passenger flights in Finnish airspace.
After this decision by the Finnish Civil Aviation Authority, Soder Aviation cancelled all planned flights for the rest of the spring skiing season.
Due to previous officially published debts (amounting to approximately Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
1 million), the Finnish financial authorities seized a substantial amount of funds from 2 Soder Aviation bank accounts in early March, which placed the company in a difficult financial position. Recently, on April 4, 2006, Soder Aviation Ltd. filed for bankruptcy at Helsinki District Court. The court approved the start of bankruptcy on April 7. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the company will continue to operate in its present form in the future.
In 2007, the airline code OY passed to an Argentinian regional company, Andes Líneas Aéreas, operating line and charter flights in the northern areas of Argentina.
Services
The airline flew routes from Tampere to Kittilä, IvaloIvalo
Ivalo is a village in Inari Municipality, in Finland's Lapland Province, located on the Ivalo river 20 kilometres to the south of Lake Inari. It has a population of 3,998 and a small airport...
, and Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
and from Helsinki to Kittilä and Ivalo directly or via Tampere during the winter skiing seasons. International flights originally planned did not materialize. In 2006, the only planned route (operated by Alexandair) was Helsinki-Kittilä, originally scheduled to last until May 1 (the end of the Finnish skiing season).