More about us

Ownership

Kristianstad Airport AB is a municipally owned company. We are owned by Kristianstad Municipality (91%), Hässleholm Municipality (5%), Bromölla Municipality (2%), and Östra Göinge Municipality (2%).

Societal Benefit

The societal benefit that our airport contributes to includes preparedness for medical air transport, where we open the airport and control tower for emergency medical flights with 1 hour’s notice. The base for the Swedish Maritime Administration’s SAR Helicopter SOUTH, which is ready to respond 24/7, year-round. Our participation in various collaborative exercises with other societal functions such as the police, ambulance services, and fire brigade, as well as military exercises – most recently Aurora 2023. Additionally, we help to maintain our part of Scania (Skåne) as a vibrant and attractive region for both residents and businesses.

History

Everödsfältet was established as a grass runway in the mid-1940s and was paved in 1953. The Chief of the Air Force opened the airport for civilian traffic in 1960. Civilian operations commenced in April 1961 when Linjeflyg operated two daily flights to Stockholm/Bromma. In that year, 6,397 passengers flew from Kristianstad Airport.

In the years leading up to 1988, the number of weekly flights on the Bromma route increased, and that year, the airport also gained its first international route. The Danish airline MUKAIR began flying between Kristianstad and Copenhagen as a feeder route to the major hub at Kastrup, until October 2000.

In 1992, an international route to the east was established. Air Lithuania operated flights between Kristianstad and Palanga in Lithuania until the autumn of 2003. In January 1993, Linjeflyg was acquired by SAS, which continued to operate multiple daily flights to Stockholm.

Significant changes and improvements were made to the airport between 1995 and 1997. The terminal was expanded, the car park was enlarged, and the apron was increased in size. The runway was widened, reinforced, and extended, and a new ILS system was installed. The field area was acquired from the Swedish Armed Forces in 1996, making the airport completely civilian. The new name became Kristianstad Airport.

The upgrades enabled operations with heavier and larger aircraft. In April 1997, the first charter flight took off from Kristianstad Airport, headed to Mallorca. This was followed by the establishment of winter charters once a week to the Canary Islands. In between, there was also a summer season with charters to Cyprus.

The biggest news in 1998 was the establishment of Ryanair, with a daily connection to London. Ryanair continued to operate the route until the spring of 2001. During that time, the AFIS service was discontinued, and ATS Kristianstad became controlled throughout opening hours. Between 2001 and 2015, we had charters to destinations such as Turkey and Croatia.

In 1999, our passenger count exceeded 250,000 for the first time.

In 2000, Adria Airways established the flight route between Kristianstad and Ljubljana in Slovenia, which was operated once a week until the fall of 2001.

SAS operated flights to Stockholm/Arlanda for almost 10 years. In 2002, SAS subsidiaries Skyways and Malmö Aviation took over the Stockholm routes. After intense competition between the two companies, Skyways won and operated 7-9 flights daily to Arlanda. Skyways went bankrupt in May 2012.

In the summer of 2013, a broader approach was taken to the airport’s role for the entire region and a “new” fresh airport was inaugurated with a new name: Kristianstad Österlen Airport!

In August 2012, Sparrow Aviation (formerly Flyglinjen) began operating Kristianstad – Arlanda flights, with three to four flights a day.

When BRA took over in 2018 and opened a new route to Bromma, Kristianstad Österlen Airport became one of the only two Swedish airports to experience an increase in passenger numbers. In December, we reached our goal of 40,000 passengers. The people had spoken – Kristianstad Österlen Airport is essential for both individuals and businesses!

In mid-2018, the Swedish Maritime Administration’s SAR Helicopter SOUTH moved to a temporary base at our airport.

The pandemic arrived, and BRA entered reconstruction, concluding its final flight with us in the spring of 2020. During the period without an airline, the airport staff was on short-term layoff, while daily operations, maintenance, and renovation of facilities were part of our schedule. Additionally, we became one of Sweden’s emergency preparedness airports, allowing us to open the airport for emergency medical flights with 1 hour’s notice.

In April 2020, an agreement was reached for a permanent base at KID, and SAR Helicopter SOUTH became our neighbors for the next 20 years!

On November 19, 2020, a press release was issued announcing a new airline coming to KID – Skåneflyg. The company, established by four entrepreneurs with roots in the region, was created to secure the link between eastern Skåne and Stockholm. The pandemic caused delays in the startup process, but on March 28, 2022, Skåneflyg’s “Humlan” made its first flight to Stockholm and Bromma. Support from passengers and the region’s business community was strong, but new challenges awaited, including increased fuel prices. In the spring of 2023, it was announced that the final flight would be on June 25, and instead, together with us, the work began to secure the next operator for the route.

Starting in March 2022, SAR Helicopter SOUTH flies on bio-jet fuel to reduce emissions. On June 22, 2022, SAR Helicopter SOUTH and its personnel moved in and became operational in the new permanent helicopter base at KID.

During the summer of 2023, it was time to resurface KID’s runway. Runway 01/19 is now in perfect condition for the autumn launch of the Stockholm route.

On August 27, 2023, BRA will resume operations with us. The company, which has further solidified its position in Swedish domestic traffic, also operates the route Bromma – Helsinki, serving as a significant hub to the rest of the world. With their commitment to greener aviation, we are more than pleased to welcome BRA back, especially after they received the award for “Sweden’s Most Satisfied Air Travelers 2023” from the Swedish Quality Index.