48318

OST Docket 48318

Transwede Airways AB and Blue Scandinavia AB (Transfer and Amendment of Foreign Air Carrier Permit/Exemption)

48318 | OST-96-1344 | OST-96-1345 | August 31, 1998

Notice of Withdrawal of Applications

At the time of the original applications, Transwede and Transwede Leisure were both under the 100 percent ownership of Transwede Holding AB, another Swedish corporation. In February of this year, however, Blue Scandinavia (Transwede Leisure) was sold and operates in Europe as Britannia Airways AB. In March, full ownership of Transwede was acquired by Braathens SAFE of Norway, and that company operates in Sweden as Braathens Sverige AB

Therefore, the premise for the original applications -- common ownership -- is no longer valid, and the applications are hereby withdrawn. The effect of this is to terminate the exemption held by Blue Scandinavia, because there is no renewal application pending. Britannia Airways AB intends, in the future, to apply for its own United States authority. The permit issued to Transwede remains in existence by its terms, but the authority it grants is not effective because Transwede (presently Braathens Sverige) has no Swedish authority to serve the United States. It is presently expected that no application will be filed to renew that permit before it expires on March 15, 1999.

Counsel: Frederick Hird, 202-778-0878