Skien Airport, Geiteryggen
Encyclopedia
Skien Airport, Geiteryggen (Norwegian: Skien lufthavn, Geiteryggen) is an airport located 2.5 km southwest of the city centre of Skien
, Norway
. Skien Lufthavn AS operates the airport and this company is owned by the local municipality of Skien in the Grenland
region. Services are provided by Danish Air Transport to Bergen
and Stavanger
. In 2009, the airport had 47,877 passengers.
The local aviation club, Grenland Flyklubb (founded 1946), started flights at Geiteryggen in 1952. First plane, a 2 seater Piper Cub, landed Thursday February 7, 1952.
Skien Airport Geiteryggen has had commercial flights since the 1950s. From the start daily operations were run by Snorre Kjetilson and his wife Reidun and their company; Fjellfly
(1952-1972). After a slow start the airline operated at the most 14 aircraft of various sizes (in 1965). They operated commercial flights to Oslo
and Hamar
as well as charter
flights and goods transport. The airport was locally famous for its two bears that lived nearby the airport site.
In 1980 the third largest Norwegian carrier, Norving
(1976-1988), had seven daily connections to Oslo
, and Skien was the company's technical base. In 1987; 60,000 passengers used the airport. Norving was replaced by Norsk Air
(soon to be Widerøe Norsk Air) until 1993 when this company moved its traffic to Sandefjord Lufthavn, Torp. In 1996 Sun Air
offered for a short time international flights to Copenhagen
. In total between 80-90 million NOK
have been invested in the airport since the 80s.
Two years ago local businessmen, with the support of the local municipality, established a new airline; Vildanden
, with daily connections to Bergen. In 2007 the airport got an additional boost with new daily flights to Molde, Stavanger and its first international destination with three flights a week to Stockholm. The airline has also seen an increase in tourist traffic using its flights as well as the commuting oil-workers.
Owner of the airport have in October 2006 decided to grant a loan of 2,5 million NOK to continue air traffic at the airport.
Airlines that have operated from Geiteryggen: Fjellfly
, Norving
, Norsk Air
, Sun Air of Scandinavia
, Air Stord, Teddy Air
, Coast Air
, Golden Air
and European Executive Express
(EEE).
was the sole commercial flight operator to Skien until it went out of business in January 2011. Widerøe
have announced flights to Bergen
commencing in March 2011.
Long-term plans are to develop this airport with more domestic destinations like Trondheim and Oslo and maybe add more international destinations like Copenhagen or London. Some investments have been made by the owners to keep commercial flights at the airport. Geiteryggen is one of a few airports in Norway to have free parking. The airport offers a unique portal to Telemark
, its county capital; Skien and the Grenland region.
Pegasus Helikopterskole (owned by Pegasus Helicopter FTO) has its helicopter
training academy for commercial and private use, with its four helicopters, stationed at the airport. The academy is one of three private academies in Norway. About 20 people graduate as helicopter pilots each year from this academy.
Other businesses connected to the airport are: Grenland Flyklubb, Grenland Fallskjermklubb, Eurosky AS, Magne Dale and Guard System AS.
There are 30 employees directly or indirectly working at the airport. The owners get rental income from parts of the buildings.
Skien Lufthavn Geiteryggen is one of very few airports with daily flights that are not owned by Avinor
(formerly Luftfartsverket; Norwegian state owned company). This could in the long term mean possibilities for low-cost airlines, private/business flights or even charter flights to establish themselves at the airport.
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Skien Lufthavn AS operates the airport and this company is owned by the local municipality of Skien in the Grenland
Grenland
Grenland is a traditional district in the county of Telemark, in the south of Norway. It is composed of the municipalities Skien, Porsgrunn, Bamble, Nome, and Siljan. Sometimes the municipalities Kragerø, and Drangedal are considered being part of the area...
region. Services are provided by Danish Air Transport to Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
and Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
. In 2009, the airport had 47,877 passengers.
History
First aircraft to visit Skien landed in the nearby area of Gråtenmoen in 1914. Local businessmen with the support of local government soon realised that airtraffic was essential for the areas economic growth and planned an airport at Geiteryggen in 1936, but due to delays and World War II no real traffic ever started. In 1946 Telemark Flyselskap was established to start a local airport. Some seaplanes were using Skien's nearby canals and rivers to reach town with goods and passengers.The local aviation club, Grenland Flyklubb (founded 1946), started flights at Geiteryggen in 1952. First plane, a 2 seater Piper Cub, landed Thursday February 7, 1952.
Skien Airport Geiteryggen has had commercial flights since the 1950s. From the start daily operations were run by Snorre Kjetilson and his wife Reidun and their company; Fjellfly
Fjellfly
Fjellfly was a Norwegian airline founded by Snorre Sturla Kjetilson in 1954.Fjellfly's main hub was Skien Airport, Geiteryggen. At the most the company operated 14 aircraft of various sizes for passenger, goods and charter flights . Kjetilson was also known for his "pets" as the airport site housed...
(1952-1972). After a slow start the airline operated at the most 14 aircraft of various sizes (in 1965). They operated commercial flights to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
as well as charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
flights and goods transport. The airport was locally famous for its two bears that lived nearby the airport site.
In 1980 the third largest Norwegian carrier, Norving
Norving
Norving A/S was a regional airline that operated in Norway between 1971 and 1993. It had roots back to the establishment of Varangfly in 1959. At the most, the company had eight bases and 27 aircraft.-History:...
(1976-1988), had seven daily connections to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, and Skien was the company's technical base. In 1987; 60,000 passengers used the airport. Norving was replaced by Norsk Air
Norsk Air
Widerøe Norsk Air AS, formerly known as Vestfoldfly, Norsk Flytjeneste AS and Norsk Air AS, was a Norwegian airline based at Sandefjord Airport, Torp...
(soon to be Widerøe Norsk Air) until 1993 when this company moved its traffic to Sandefjord Lufthavn, Torp. In 1996 Sun Air
Sun Air
Sun Air may refer to:* Sun Air - an airline based in Khartoum, Sudan* Sun Air - the former name of Pacific Sun, an airline based in Nadi, Fiji* Sun Air - an Egyptian charter airline* Sun Air of Scandinavia...
offered for a short time international flights to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. In total between 80-90 million NOK
Norwegian krone
The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"...
have been invested in the airport since the 80s.
Two years ago local businessmen, with the support of the local municipality, established a new airline; Vildanden
Vildanden
Vildanden may refer to:* Vildanden , a Norwegian airline.* Vildanden , a play by Henrik Ibsen....
, with daily connections to Bergen. In 2007 the airport got an additional boost with new daily flights to Molde, Stavanger and its first international destination with three flights a week to Stockholm. The airline has also seen an increase in tourist traffic using its flights as well as the commuting oil-workers.
Owner of the airport have in October 2006 decided to grant a loan of 2,5 million NOK to continue air traffic at the airport.
Airlines that have operated from Geiteryggen: Fjellfly
Fjellfly
Fjellfly was a Norwegian airline founded by Snorre Sturla Kjetilson in 1954.Fjellfly's main hub was Skien Airport, Geiteryggen. At the most the company operated 14 aircraft of various sizes for passenger, goods and charter flights . Kjetilson was also known for his "pets" as the airport site housed...
, Norving
Norving
Norving A/S was a regional airline that operated in Norway between 1971 and 1993. It had roots back to the establishment of Varangfly in 1959. At the most, the company had eight bases and 27 aircraft.-History:...
, Norsk Air
Norsk Air
Widerøe Norsk Air AS, formerly known as Vestfoldfly, Norsk Flytjeneste AS and Norsk Air AS, was a Norwegian airline based at Sandefjord Airport, Torp...
, Sun Air of Scandinavia
Sun Air of Scandinavia
Sun Air of Scandinavia is an airline based in Billund, Billund Municipality, Denmark. It is a regional scheduled airline operating a franchise service in British Airways colours. It also offers charter flights, air taxi services, specialist aerial work and aircraft brokerage. Its main base is...
, Air Stord, Teddy Air
Teddy Air
Teddy Air AS was a regional airline, based at Skien Airport, Geiteryggen, in Norway. Operating between 1989 and 2004, the company operated Britten-Norman Islander, Embraer 110 and Saab 340 aircraft. The company started by providing a scheduled service between Skien and Oslo in 1990, followed by...
, Coast Air
Coast Air
Coast Air AS was a regional airline based at Haugesund Airport, Karmøy in Norway. It was Norway's fourth-largest airline and operated domestic services within Norway, in addition to international services. Routes were concentrated along the West Coast, as well as some public service obligation...
, Golden Air
Golden Air
Golden Air is a regional airline based in Trollhättan, Sweden. It operates scheduled services to destinations in Finland, Norway and Sweden, as well as ad hoc charter services. Its main base is Trollhättan-Vänersborg Airport, with hubs at Helsinki Airport, Stockholm-Bromma Airport and...
and European Executive Express
European Executive Express
European Executive Express was an airline based in Karlstad, Sweden. It operated commuter flights for business travellers and executive charters. It was established in 1997, and its main base was Karlstad Airport...
(EEE).
Operations
VildandenVildanden
Vildanden may refer to:* Vildanden , a Norwegian airline.* Vildanden , a play by Henrik Ibsen....
was the sole commercial flight operator to Skien until it went out of business in January 2011. Widerøe
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
have announced flights to Bergen
Bergen Airport, Flesland
Bergen Airport, Flesland is an international airport located southwest of Bergen, Norway. Opened in 1955, it is the second-busiest airport in Norway, with 5,296,325 passengers in 2010. Flesland is operated by the state-owned Avinor...
commencing in March 2011.
Long-term plans are to develop this airport with more domestic destinations like Trondheim and Oslo and maybe add more international destinations like Copenhagen or London. Some investments have been made by the owners to keep commercial flights at the airport. Geiteryggen is one of a few airports in Norway to have free parking. The airport offers a unique portal to Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
, its county capital; Skien and the Grenland region.
Pegasus Helikopterskole (owned by Pegasus Helicopter FTO) has its helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
training academy for commercial and private use, with its four helicopters, stationed at the airport. The academy is one of three private academies in Norway. About 20 people graduate as helicopter pilots each year from this academy.
Other businesses connected to the airport are: Grenland Flyklubb, Grenland Fallskjermklubb, Eurosky AS, Magne Dale and Guard System AS.
There are 30 employees directly or indirectly working at the airport. The owners get rental income from parts of the buildings.
Skien Lufthavn Geiteryggen is one of very few airports with daily flights that are not owned by Avinor
Avinor
Avinor AS is a state owned limited company in that operates most of the civil airports in Norway. The Norwegian state, via the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications controls 100 percent of the share capital. Avinor was created on 1 January 2003, by the privatization of the...
(formerly Luftfartsverket; Norwegian state owned company). This could in the long term mean possibilities for low-cost airlines, private/business flights or even charter flights to establish themselves at the airport.