Where to Ski And Snowboard - New airport for top Nordic ski resorts

New airport for top Nordic ski resorts

9th April 2014, by Abi Butcher

Tour operators are welcoming the news that an airport is to be built in Sälen (shown here), Sweden

Tour operators are welcoming the news that a new airport is to be built in Sweden, close to the ski resorts of Sälen in Sweden and Trysil, Norway.

There have been rumours of an airport in Sälen for years. Currently skiers have to arrive at the small local airstrip Mora-Siljan Airport, a small regional airport with connections only from Stockholm and Ängelholm.

But last week, the Swedish government announced it would invest SEK250million (£23million) in building a new airport in Sälen, to boost private investments of more than SEK1billion (around £92m).

Sälen is one of Sweden’s biggest ski resorts, with 144km of pistes, an extensive lift system and good off-piste for experts. Trysil, on the border with Sweden, is also an extensive resort, with good long ski runs of up to 4km. Absolutely Snow and Ski Safari take UK clients to Trysil, but Sälen is not currently served by any British tour operators.

Clare Hawley from Absolutely Snow said the airport is great news. “Trysil has been a resounding success for Absolutely Snow over the past two years however the transfer from Oslo Gardemoen Airport can take between two and three hours.

“A new airport at Sälen will mean a transfer time of less than 45 minutes and will open up Trysil and Sälen to short-break skiing and perhaps encourage families to return as everything will be right for them – no lift queues, wide open slopes, English speaking instructors, excellent ski in ski out accommodation and a new short transfer!”

Crystal takes skiers to three resorts in Norway, but not Trysil — and it doesn’t cover any resorts in Sweden. Company spokesman Marion Telsnig said Crystal Ski had already been in talks with SkiStar, the Swedish company that runs Sälen and Trysil.

“The two resorts are only 50 miles apart and in Nordic terms, top ski resorts,” said Ms Telsnig. “So yes, certainly good news for British skiers.”

SkiStar last week issued a press release to say it was “really happy” with the government’s decision, saying it was a demonstration of support to “the winter Swedish tourism industry and “Sweden’s largest area for winter tourism (Sälenfjällen)”.

Ms Telsnig added that it was “too early” to say whether Crystal plans to expand its programme to include the two resorts.