Bergen flights added to Sumburgh schedule

A new air service between Sumburgh and Bergen in Norway is due to begin later this month.

Norwegian airline Bergen Air Transport, which operates scheduled, charter and cargo flights from the city, will launch a twice-weekly service to Sumburgh on 24th November. The airline will operate a 12-seat Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft on the route.

Initially the 70-minute flights will run on Mondays and Thursdays but the airline said there could be expansion if the demand was there. It is hoped to capitalise on established trade links between Shetland and Norway, particularly in the energy and marine sectors, but the service is also open to leisure passengers on weekend breaks.

The new service is being supported by funding of £70,470 from economic development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

HIE Shetland area manager Rachel Hunter said: “There are already strong ties between Shetland and Norway, especially in the oil and gas and aquaculture industries. Good transport links are essential to a successful and globally competitive region.

“These new weekday flights will allow much greater ease of travel, with businesses benefiting from reduced travel costs and improved productivity through reduced time spent travelling.

“Over time, it is hoped that this improved connectivity will facilitate even stronger business links between Shetland and Norway.”

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Bergen Air Transport business development manager Tom Roll said: “The service between the two airports represents a very effective connection and we trust that the business communities in Shetland will find the service attractive.

“We are very excited and eager to start up and we look forward to discussing further expansion of the service should the demand be there.”

Inbound flights will depart Bergen at 9am (local time), arriving at Sumburgh at 9.10am (local time). The return flights will depart Sumburgh at 9.45am and arrive in Bergen at 11.55am.