Air Leap

[jmdavies86]

Sad to read via Routes (https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/297432/air-leap-failure-leaves-eight-routes-unserved/) that Air Leap (http://www.airleap.se) have ceased flights and applied for corporate restructuring, leaving eight routes in Sweden, Norway and Finland unserved.

A statement issued said that "...it was not financially viable to continue the business in its current form with the conditions that exist today” and they've blamed a lack of State support considering that they maintained operations throughout the duration of the pandemic.

Leap was apparently an acronym for 'Large European Aviation Project' - they operated a fleet consisting of a single ATR72-500 and several Saab 340B aircraft.

[vikingivesterled]

Their route Oslo-Røros had long been troubled since Air Leap won the competition for who could do it with the least subsidies. There have been constant winter problems with left luggage and booked passengers denied boarding due to Air Leap not having the correct certifications for the used ac for full winter load when runway at Røros is icy or windy or snowy. Even more issues when they merged the route with Oslo-Orland for the pandemic. Now when Widerøe is back on the route I doubt Air Leap will reappear even if they do succeed with their restructuring. Problem is also that the community of Røros always wanted an overnightng aircraft and they have invested in a heated hangar for such so they can have an early morning departure and late night arrival allowing people can go to Oslo for a full day of meetings. Car/train alternatives take 5 to 8 hours one way.
But who knows which airline will be there in a years time since the Norwegian department responsible has only given Widerøe a 2 month contract with an optional 1 month extension and then will do a competition for a 6 month contract while they are preparing for a larger competition for a full multi year contract.