Linjeflyg was founded on 2 April 1957 as a domestic airline, flying passengers and goods during daytime and mail and newspapers in the nights. The founders were Airtaco, an airline that originated from Air Scandia in 1950, and Sven Östling on behalf of the Swedish SAS branch. Other founding partners were the Dagens Nyheter and Stockholms-Tidningen newspapers. Airtaco integrated its fleet into the new airline, namely four Lockheed 18 Lodestars and four Douglas DC-3s. The airline’s headquarter and operational base were established in Stockholm-Bromma.

The first Linjeflyg passenger route was the connection between Stockholm and Malmö, served with DC-3. Soon the network was enlarged to include Jönköping, Kalmar, Karlstad, Kristianstad, Lidköping, Malmö, Nordmaling, Sundsvall, Visby and Växjö. Later the number of domestic destinations was extended to over 35. Despite being a domestic airline, Linjeflyg could also be seen outside Sweden, on scheduled flights on behalf of SAS and on charter flights to typical holiday destinations, like Innsbruck in winter.

The growth of the network necessitated expansion of the fleet. In the early years the venerable DC-3 became the core of the fleet, eventually counting 15 units capable of transporting 32 passengers each. In 1960 a larger aircraft type entered the fleet, the 52-seat Convair 340/440 Metropolitan, of which 21 units were acquired, while three others were leased for short periods. Two of the Convairs were lost in accidents. In 1967 four Nord 262 turboprops were added to the fleet and in 1973 Linjeflyg entered the jet age with the Fokker F28 Fellowship. Twenty F28s were bought (three 1000 series and 17 of the larger 4000 type) and another three were operated on short-term lease (see table below). Linjeflyg was the first airline worldwide to fly the then brand new 4000 series in scheduled passenger service, from Stockholm-Bromma to Kalmar and back on 17 December 1976 with SE-DGE (11112). Finally, ten Boeing B737-500s were added to the fleet.

In October 1983 Linjeflyg moved from Stockholm-Bromma airport in Stockholm city to terminal 4 of Arlanda airport north of Stockholm. In September 1990 Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) sold their 50% shares in Linjeflyg to the transport company Bilspedition. To everyones surprise SAS bought all shares back one and a half year afterwards.

During early 1992 Linjeflyg had advanced plans for a strategic alliance with Braathens and Maersk Air and this would have meant a too big competitor for SAS on the main intra-Scandinavian and domestic routes. Therefore SAS bought the other 50% of Linjeflyg to continue its market dominance. On 1 January 1993 Linjeflyg was merged into SAS and all but one Fellowships and B737s were transferred to the SAS fleet. By then Linjeflyg had some 2200 staff and the largest Fokker F28 fleet in the world. With the merger the name Linjeflyg became history.

Linjeflyg has flown with three standard liveries on their F28s (see pictures below). In 1986 one Fellowship (SE-DGR, 11204) was adorned with a special color scheme showing the Swedish countryside. The three F28s on short lease had either a sticker showing operations by Linjeflyg or a variant livery in non-standard colors (see figures below).

Linjeflyg Fokker fleet

* As a promotion for the 1980 Olympic Games, the Linjeflyg F28s were temporarily named after Swedish Olympic celebrities in mid-October 1979; late 1980 the names were removed. Later, three F28s received a permanent name.

When Linjeflyg did not need them, the ‘small’ Fellowships were leased out to other airlines; in chronological order as follows:

The leases to Andrea Air were not really successful for Linjeflyg, as the aircraft returned to Sweden in a poor technical condition

One incident that may not pass unmentioned was a severe bird strike on 4 September 1981 in the early morning. SE-DGC (11069) was flying scheduled flight LF271 between Umeå and Örnsköldsvik at 2400m altitude and some 300 knots airspeed when an osprey attacked the F28 and caused a large hole in the metal hull above the cockpit windows. The bird completely disintegrated in the cockpit, which was covered with blood all over. Both pilots thought that their colleague was dead, but either of them was uninjured. There was structural damage visible, some cables were hanging loose and the cockpit looked horrible. Although some instruments and systems could not be used, the crew made a successful landing. None of the 41 passengers and four crew were injured. SE-DGC was repaired, but long time afterwards one could note a strange odor in the cockpit. 

Linjeflyg pictures

Although Linjeflyg was a domestic airline, their aircraft could sometimes be seen abroad, mainly when they brought tourists to their holiday destinations. Here SE-DGK (11123) in the first livery, with the famous Nordkette as a backdrop. (Rolf Larsson; Innsbruck, 13 February 1982)

A general strike kept the entire Linjeflyg F28 fleet on the ground, resulting in this impressive picture of 11 F28s in a row, all in the second livery. SE-DGM (11128) is in the front. (Tommy Lakmaker; Stockholm-Arlanda, 16 May 1985)

A trio of Linjeflyg F28s with SE-DGP (11191) leading the row, again in front of the Nordkette. All three had got the 3^rd and final color scheme. (Rolf Larsson; Innsbruck, 26 December 1987)

An interesting, rare shot of SE-DGA (11067) that had an additional Red Cross and a Swedish flag for just a few days, during an evacuation exercise in cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces. The old SAS headquarters building is in the background (Rolf Larsson; Stockholm-Bromma, 7 March 1982)

SE-DGR (11204) was the only Linjeflyg F28 that carried special color schemes. It was delivered in August 1984 with a red nose painted on (after the children’s song ‘Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer’). (Rolf Larsson; Stockholm-Arlanda, 30 September 1984, with paint damage by hail storm). In 1986 it carried a large landscape picture promoting the beauty of Sweden; the text on the nose ‘Sverige är fantastiskt’ means ‘Sweden is fantastic’. The right-hand side carried only this text, not the picture. (Rolf Larsson; Visby, 14 May 1986)

PH-MAT (11008) was leased in Martinair livery with a small sticker saying ‘Chartrad av Linjeflyg’ (Leased by Linjeflyg). (Rolf Larsson; Stockholm-Bromma, 10 May 1974)

PH-SIX (11092) during lease to Linjeflyg with red cheatline and blue titles. PH-ZBL (11093) had the same scheme during its lease in 1976-1977. (Rolf Larsson; Stockholm, 12 August 1976)

PH-SIX (11092) in basic NLM Cityhopper colors with Linjeflyg titles (Johan Ljungdahl; Stockholm-Bromma, 13 January 1982)

Credits

• Wikipedia https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linjeflyg , accessed 02-08-2024.
• Svenskt Flyghistorisk Forum https://forum.flyghistoria.org, accessed August 2024
• R. Roche and A.B. Eastwood. Jet Airliner Production List volume 2. The Aviation Hobby Shop, July 2006