Because of the low US dollar, more and more Swedish holidaymakers are looking west. This is why the Swedish-based tour company Ving is starting direct charter flights from Stockholm-Arlanda Airport to Florida next winter.
Florida is a combination of beaches, big cities and entertainment
attractions. Photo: Ving
Ving will begin charter service to Florida in the 2008/2009 winter season. The new direct flights, using an Airbus A330-200 from Ving’s own affiliated airline MyTravel Airways will take off once a week from Stockholm-Arlanda during the period October 27, 2008 to April 6, 2009 − a total of 23 departures each with 360 seats and a flying time of a bit more than ten hours.
“Today there are no direct flights to Florida. Ving’s charter will save travellers at least four to five hours compared to a scheduled flight solution, since they will not have to change aircraft,” says Patrik Marklund, Product Manager at Ving.
Ving will offer a broad range of accommodations in Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Key West. These locations can be combined with each other. Ving will also offer cruises that depart from Florida and car hire packages, as well as combination trips including Playa del Carmen in south-eastern Mexico.
The reason why Ving is offering travel to Florida right now is the low US dollar exchange rate. Swedish travellers find that their holiday money goes a long way in the US. But there are also other factors that attract Swedes to Florida.
“In recent years we have seen greater demand for destinations that offer a lot of experiences. More and more people want to combine their sunbathing with something else. They want to have something to tell about when they get home. Florida offers an unparalleled range of experiences and adventures, from gigantic theme parks and impressive natural scenery to shopping, restaurants and nightlife,” Mr Marklund says.
The aircraft will land in Fort Lauderdale. Every second week it will fly non-stop from Stockholm and back. Every second week it will stop over in Oslo so that Norwegian passengers can join the flight.