With a mixture of nostalgia and regret, a unique hotel in Stockholm is threatened with closure. Jumbo Stay, formerly known as the Jumbo Hostel, has offered an exceptional overnight experience since its opening in 2009 – in a converted Boeing 747-200. The former Singapore Airlines aircraft served for many years as a hotel wing in close proximity to Arlanda Airport and was particularly popular with travelers with a passion for aviation. But after the hotel's owner, Oscar Diös, filed for bankruptcy on March 21, 2025, the hotel faces the fate of being dismantled and scrapped.
The story of the Jumbo Hotel began in 2007, when Swedish entrepreneur Oscar Diös encountered the opportunity to convert a decommissioned Boeing 747 into a hotel. The aircraft, which had been put into service by Singapore Airlines in 1979, was scheduled to make its final flight at Arlanda Airport. Diös, who already had experience converting train stations, boats, and lighthouses into hotels, seized the opportunity and acquired the aircraft. With an investment of around three million US dollars, he had the Boeing 747-200 converted into a unique accommodation. The gutting of the aircraft and the renovation of the interior took several months. The result was a hotel with 33 rooms and a total of 76 beds, which was in demand among travelers and aviation enthusiasts alike.
The hotel consisted of various room types: four dormitories with two to four beds each, five standard rooms, and three suites, each featuring a mix of hostel and budget hotel ambiance. The charm of the historic aircraft combined with modern amenities such as heating and air conditioning attracted visitors from all over the world.
The economic decline and insolvency
As the years passed, the Jumbo Hotel's luster slowly faded. In 2019, the hotel generated revenue of 8 million Swedish kronor (approximately $800.000), but by 2023, this figure had fallen to just half. The hotel's decline can be attributed to several factors. First and foremost, there was the global COVID-19 pandemic, which not only slowed international tourism but also severely impacted the hotel's revenue. Growing competition in the Arlanda area and the devaluation of advertising and marketing rights by the state-owned airport operator Swedavia also contributed to the financial difficulties. Diös explained that until five years ago, the hotel was still able to sell advertising space, which was an important source of income. However, with the acquisition of these rights by Swedavia, the operators lost the opportunity to continue financing themselves in this way.
The insolvency and the closure
On March 21, 2025, Diös finally announced that Jumbo Stay had filed for insolvency. The insolvency administrator, Daniel Svensson, declared that the hotel was no longer financially viable and therefore had to close. On March 17, 2025, all guests who had already made reservations were notified that their bookings had been canceled. The financial difficulties that had burdened the business for years now led to the hotel's final closure. In a press release, Svensson expressed his regret at the hotel's demise: "It is sad that such a unique hotel, which has achieved worldwide recognition, is now disappearing." In fact, the Jumbo Stay was one of the few hotels of its kind, and many travelers who wanted to spend a night in the famous Boeing 747 now had to resort to alternative accommodations.
The future of the Jumbo Hotel: scrapping is imminent
Given the economic situation and Swedavia's decision not to lease the property to another operator, the Jumbo Hotel's fate appears sealed. Even if a buyer for the Boeing 747 is found, there is no prospect of another hotel on the site. The aircraft, which first entered service in 1979, could now be dismantled and scrapped, spelling the final end of this unique hotel.
A piece of history comes to an end
The Jumbo Stay was more than just a hotel. It was a piece of history that combined a passion for aviation and travel with the nostalgia of the great era of jumbo jets. For many, staying overnight in such a landmark of aviation history was an unforgettable experience.
But with the closure of this unusual hotel, a symbol of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that has delighted travelers from all over the world for years disappears. The story of the Jumbo Hotel is an example of how unusual ideas can lead to both success and failure if they are not supported by a solid economic foundation.
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