The Scandinavian Mountains Airport is also known as Sälen-Trysil for its location between the Swedish ski resort of Sälen and the Norwegian ski resort of Trysil . Both ski areas are the largest in their respective countries. The new airport will commence service on December 22, 2019, just in time for ski season in Sweden and Norway.
The Scandinavian Mountains Airport will serve four ski resorts with a total of 250 slopes and 100 000 beds in tourism accommodation. The airport also has the dubious distinction of being the first in the world to operate with a remote-controlled air traffic control tower. The terminal will have a café, a retail shop and a duty free shop and will be able to handle up to four flights at a time (d'aww). It will take between 10-45 minutes to reach the nearby ski resorts via airport shuttle; taxis and rental cars will also be available. A two-hour flight and a 10-minute shuttle: this is one of the fastest transfer times ever for getting to a ski resort in Europe!
The Scandinavian Mountains Airport is actually being built on a strip of land that already hosted a small airstrip, but it's being expanded to allow for international air travel with a focus on bringing skiers and snowboarders to Norway and Sweden. So far the two airlines that will be flying in and out of the airport are Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and the Norwegian-Swedish Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA). SAS has already announced weekly flights to London Heathrow during the 2019/20 ski season, starting on December 28th. Flights will take around 2 hours and are expected to further increase British interest in Scandinavia's ski resorts.
Norway and Sweden have gained popularity in recent years as alternatives to the Alps. The northern latitudes of the ski resorts mean they're also blessed with better snow cover, especially in the spring skiing season. This airport opens up a whole new swath of possibilities - how many airports in the Alps have ski resorts in such close proximity, apart from perhaps Innsbruck? Skiing in Scandinavia is an unforgettable experience with sights you won't see anywhere else - ever skied next to a fjord? The ski culture is laid-back and welcoming and not as commercial as some of the bigger ski resorts in the Alps. Definitely a must-try for next season!
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Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
