Photo Credit: Google Earth/ Karin Snowstar
The Trollhattan-Vänersborg Airport (THN) , located right behind the Saab Factory in Trollhättan, Sweden began when the land was purchased for the use of an airplane factory and airfield in 1937. This was the same year that Svenska Aeroplan AktieBolaget or SAAB, began making aircraft for the Swedish Military.
During the Second World War (1939-1944), the facility was in full swing for the Swedish Air Force and produced the B3, B5, B17, J21 and J21R.
Following the War, the airfield continued but instead of military purposes, it operated commercial civilian flights, flight school, air freight and private flights.
In 1973, the airport was modernized and became a regional airport serving Trollhättan, Uddevalla and Vänersborg municipalities with approximately 10,000 passengers that year.
Ten Years later the airport expanded the runway, new terminal and tower, and the annual passengers rose to nearly 22,000.
In 1985, the Trollhattan-Vänersborg Airport began flying the second historical SAAB civilian commercial passenger turboprop, the SAAB 340. Three years after this launch the SAAB 340 began serving Finland as well.
In 1990, a new route to Arlanda airport in Stockholm began, bringing the passengers that year to nearly 150,000 per year.
In 1992, Swede Air took over operation of the flights at the airport, then a year later SAS closed Swede Air and a new service provided by Golden Air continued service while limiting the existing routes to save on costs, which is when the SAAB 2000 aircraft was introduced.
2000 came and the annual passeners were reduced to 85,000 through Golden Air’s service.
Today, the annual passengers served at the airport is somewhere around 65,000 and continues to operate the SAAB 340 and SAAB 2000 aircrafts.
For more information on the Trollhattan-Vänersborg Airport please visit http://www.fyrstadsflyget.se/
