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| Photo Loganair |
The Scottish carrier is the sister airline of the collapsed FlyBMI and owned by the same firm, will introduce a service between Sumburgh and Bergen during Up Helly Aa, offering Shetland’s Norwegian neighbours a direct link to come and enjoy Shetland’s spectacular celebration of its Viking past.
The new flights will also offer Shetlander’s the chance to head to ‘the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway’ outside of the summer, presenting a new opportunity to enjoy western Norway’s unique winter experiences such as glacier hiking, northern lights chasing and cross-country skiing.
The outbound flight to Bergen departs Sumburgh Airport on Monday 27 January at 13.20pm, bringing Norwegian visitors to the festival on the inbound flight at 15.05pm ahead of the start of Up Helly Aa on Tuesday 28 January. The same flights will then depart on Thursday 30 January, giving visitors to both Shetland and Bergen the chance to enjoy a three-night winter getaway.
Up Helly Aa welcomes visitors from across the world to Shetland each year and is particularly popular with Norwegians, celebrating Shetland’s Viking links with torch-lit processions and the burning of a Viking long boat, all in traditional Viking dress. The one-day event is a descendent of the ancient festival of Yule which the Vikings held to celebrate the rebirth of the sun after a long winter.
It is hoped the new air service will not only facilitate the ease of getting to the festival but also stir further interest in the Norwegian market to attend Shetland’s largest annual celebration and grow visitor numbers.
Loganair has operated a direct service between Shetland and Bergen within its summer schedule since 2008 – a popular summer link operated by its Saab 2000 aircraft to maintain the isles connections with its close cultural neighbours.
Sam Talbot, Marketing Manager at Loganair, said: “The Sumburgh – Bergen route is hugely popular in summer months, connecting Shetland with its nearby Norwegian neighbours in Bergen.
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| Photo Loganair |
“Up Helly Aa is one of the biggest events in the year for Shetland, and with such a strong Norwegian connection to the event, we felt it important to provide direct links between Norway and Shetland at this time of year.
“Shetland is always going to be important in our network, and as we grow, we’re delighted to be improving connectivity to drive growth for Shetland’s superb festivals. We’re thrilled to be part of this much-loved event and look forward to raising its awareness in Norway”
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