In the meantime, the machine type Fokker 50 is rarely encountered. The Swedish Amapola Flyg exclusively operates this type and on Sunday started a new route between Mariehamn and Stockholm-Arlanda.

With six Fokker 50, the carrier maintains a regional network in Scandinavia. The former Dutch manufacturer's turboprop aircraft are also used in the cargo area, as Amapola Flyg also has five Fokker 50Fs. The average age of the fleet is correspondingly high and is currently 32,3 years.

Within Sweden, the regional airline operates numerous routes that are subsidized as part of so-called public service obligations. This also applies to the route between Mariehamn and Stockholm-Arlanda, because a tender was won there. So far, Saab 340s from another operator have been in use.

For the passengers, the change to Amapola Flyg should also have the advantage that the airline maintains an interline agreement with SAS. This enables the booking of through tickets as well as the check-through of checked baggage. Interestingly enough, Minister of Infrastructure Christian Wikström considers the change from aging Saab 340 to Fokker 50, which is also not exactly young, to be a "significant improvement". He also described the 50-seater as "comfortable, quiet and spacious".

“We look forward to offering the Ålanders a reliable air transport product. We hope to increase passenger traffic and we are looking into increasing traffic to other destinations from Mariehamn during the contract period,” says Erik Salén, CEO of Amapola Flyg AB.