Airline overview
Amapola Flyg AB is a Swedish airline carrying both passengers and cargo, founded and in operation since 2004. It took over the Swedish postal air contract previously flown by Falcon Air, is headquartered and mainly based at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, and its parent is the Swedish investment company Sven Salén AB. It holds Swedish air operator certificate SE.AOC.0057. The IATA two-letter code is HP, the ICAO three-letter code is APF and the radio call sign is AMAPOLA. The official reference site is amapola.nu, and passenger and brand information is at populair.com.
In its history, the company was the sole air operator for PostNord Sweden from 2004 to 2019 and also flew cargo routes from Maastricht Aachen Airport to Stockholm Arlanda for express and logistics operators such as Jetpak and MiniLiner. In July 2018 it began domestic regional passenger service, and in June of that year the Swedish Transport Agency designated it to take over several northern public service obligation routes left after the Nextjet bankruptcy. In October 2023 the company was renamed populAir and adopted a green and white livery, while the cargo business continued under the Amapola Flyg brand and codes. In October 2023 it also won the Swedish Transport Agency contract for twelve domestic routes for 2023 to 2027. In October 2024 its Arlanda operation moved to Terminal 3.
Its published routes are mainly domestic Swedish points, including Arvidsjaur, Gällivare, Hemavan, Jönköping, Kramfors, Lycksele, Örnsköldsvik, Vilhelmina and Stockholm Arlanda, plus a cross-border route from Mariehamn to Turku. On the cargo side, public information shows a new Jönköping to Oslo to Trondheim cargo route from 2026.
For a shipper in China, the capacity sits in the Swedish domestic and Nordic regional network, and its core value is reaching northern Swedish cities. Chinese cargo usually arrives at Stockholm Arlanda, Gothenburg Landvetter or Malmö on a mainline flight, clears customs and continues north on the regional cargo service, which completes the chain into inland Sweden.
China contact
No office in China is publicly listed. The company has no published sales office or cargo department in China. To use its Swedish and Nordic regional network, contact its local agent in China, or let us help: Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, https://goodhope86.com.
Published head office details: the head office and main base are at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden, and operations have run from Arlanda Terminal 3 since October 2024; official sites are amapola.nu and populair.com. Sales and business contacts for cargo customers follow the details published on the official site, and current telephone numbers and email addresses follow the carrier's latest publication.
To check rates, space and routes, we can put the enquiry to the company or its ground agent on your behalf. Because its capacity mainly serves postal, express and contract customers, public channels generally offer no booking entry point for end customers, and going through a forwarder is more efficient.
Aircraft types and fleet
The Amapola Flyg fleet is a single type, the Fokker 50. As of August 2025 public information shows twelve Fokker 50 aircraft, seven in passenger configuration and five in cargo configuration. A single type standardises crew, maintenance and ground support and gives the airline scheduling flexibility on domestic and regional routes.
The Fokker 50 is a twin turboprop regional type with moderate cruise speed and take-off and landing performance suited to short runways and to cold, high-altitude airfields in the Nordic region, which is why it has long been the main type on northern Swedish routes. The passenger version seats about 50 and its belly takes baggage and loose cargo; the cargo version has the seats removed and a cargo door and floor added for mail, parcels, express and general cargo, with a payload in the tonnes and suited to high-frequency, small-lot regional work.
In handling terms the Fokker 50 freighter loads loose cargo, usually by piece or by pallet, which suits mail, e-commerce parcels, vehicle parts, pharmaceuticals and light industrial goods from China. Piece dimensions are limited by the cargo door and cabin space, so over-length or overweight pieces must be checked in advance. Range limits mean the capacity is used on short Swedish and nearby regional sectors, and intercontinental movement is done by mainline flights.
| Aircraft type | Number (published sources) | Use and freight notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fokker 50, passenger configuration | 7 aircraft (public information, 2025) | Swedish domestic regional and public service obligation routes; the belly carries baggage and loose cargo |
| Fokker 50 freighter | 5 aircraft (public information, 2025) | Regional cargo of mail, parcels, express and general goods, loaded in the main hold |
| Fokker 50 series, historical | 11 aircraft on the register historically (public information, 2011) | The early main type for mail and cargo; fleet size followed the business |
Airport services and schedules in China
Airport services in China
No public information is available. The company operates no scheduled passenger or cargo service from any airport in China, has no ground service or sales counter of its own at a Chinese gateway, and its published network is confined to Sweden and neighbouring Nordic regions. Cargo from China can only join the regional network after arriving at a main Swedish gateway, which is the normal way to use this carrier's capacity.
On the China side, cargo leaves from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Hangzhou and other main gateways. After export declaration and security screening, it flies direct or via a transit point to Stockholm Arlanda, Gothenburg Landvetter or Malmö, clears import customs at the gateway and continues north on the regional cargo service. One air waybill covers the whole journey, with no second export declaration inside China.
Schedules on the Swedish and Nordic network
Schedules follow Swedish Transport Agency public service obligation contracts and commercial arrangements, and no complete cargo timetable is published. Public information shows domestic points including Arvidsjaur, Gällivare, Hemavan, Jönköping, Kramfors, Lycksele, Örnsköldsvik, Vilhelmina and Stockholm Arlanda, cross-border points at Mariehamn and Turku in Finland, and a new Jönköping to Oslo to Trondheim cargo direction from 2026.
| Sectors and waypoints | Country | Schedule overview (published sources) |
|---|---|---|
| Stockholm Arlanda ARN to Kramfors KRF | Sweden | Domestic routes; schedules follow the seasonal plan |
| Stockholm Arlanda ARN to Lycksele LYC | Sweden | Domestic routes; schedules follow the seasonal plan |
| Stockholm Arlanda ARN to Örnsköldsvik OER | Sweden | Domestic routes; schedules follow the seasonal plan |
| Stockholm Arlanda ARN to Arvidsjaur AJR | Sweden | Domestic routes; schedules follow the seasonal plan |
| Stockholm Arlanda ARN to Gällivare GEV | Sweden | Domestic routes; schedules follow the seasonal plan |
| Stockholm Arlanda ARN to Hemavan and Vilhelmina | Sweden | Domestic routes; schedules follow the seasonal plan |
| Stockholm Arlanda ARN to Jönköping JKG | Sweden | Cargo direction; schedule confirmed by the carrier |
| Jönköping JKG to Oslo OSL to Trondheim TRD | Sweden / Norway | Public information shows a cargo service from 2026 |
| Mariehamn MHQ to Turku TKU | Finland | Cross-border route; schedule follows the seasonal plan |
| Direct sector from a Chinese gateway | China | No public information available |
Times are local. Actual schedules vary with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
On connections, after arrival at the Swedish gateway the ground agent clears import customs and sorts the cargo, rebuilds it onto pallets or into containers for the regional sector and moves it to the northern destination. Connection time depends on the day's flight density and ground handling; if schedules or capacity change, the forwarder tells the shipper in advance and re-plans.
Cargo connections from China to Sweden and the Nordics
From China, cargo flies direct or through a European hub to Stockholm Arlanda, Gothenburg Landvetter or Malmö, clears customs and joins the Amapola Flyg regional network. Destinations include Kramfors, Lycksele, Örnsköldsvik, Arvidsjaur, Gällivare, Hemavan and Vilhelmina in northern Sweden, and Mariehamn and Turku in Finland; from 2026 the cargo network extends to Oslo and Trondheim in Norway. Among these points the northern cities are served mainly by domestic passenger flights with cargo in the belly, and the space and schedule available are confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking.
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Zhengzhou and other main Chinese gateways all have direct flights to the Nordics or flights via a European hub, and the whole journey can run on one through air waybill. Cargo is handled at the gateway under international transit and import procedures with no second export declaration in China, and the rate accumulates by sector and is calculated by the forwarder.
On cargo types, the network suits electronic components, vehicle parts, machine parts, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, textiles, e-commerce parcels and mail. Charging follows IATA rules at the higher of gross weight and volumetric weight, with volumetric weight calculated as length times width times height divided by 6000; for low-density cargo, optimise the packing in advance to control the chargeable weight. Piece dimensions are limited by the regional aircraft's cargo door, and over-limit pieces must be checked in advance.
For small lots or cargo spread across several destinations, consolidation works: the forwarder groups the cargo at the Swedish gateway and connects it to the regional flights. For a single large consignment, mainline pallet build-up or a block space agreement into the Nordics followed by distribution works better. Transit time from China to northern Swedish cities depends on the gateway, the connection and the season, and the forwarder sets out the expected transit time and capacity plan at quotation stage.
Freight advantages from China
For shippers in China, the advantages of using this carrier's capacity are as follows.
First, reach into northern Sweden. Gällivare, Kramfors, Lycksele, Örnsköldsvik and Arvidsjaur are long road distances away and winter conditions are difficult, so the regional air network moves Chinese cargo out of Stockholm quickly and shortens the final leg. The northern points are served by passenger flights with belly capacity, so space per flight is limited and large lots should be split across flights.
Second, a single fleet type with short-runway capability. The Fokker 50 performs well on short runways, suits small Nordic airfields and cold conditions, and reaches more points than a large aircraft.
Third, postal and express experience. The company was long the air operator for PostNord Sweden, so sorting, loading and handover of mail and parcels are well established, which suits e-commerce parcels, samples and replenishment stock.
Fourth, stability from public service obligation routes. Several domestic routes are operated under Swedish Transport Agency public service obligation contracts, and flight arrangements are relatively stable over the 2023 to 2027 contract period, which helps shippers plan long term.
Fifth, capacity that complements itself. Passenger belly space and freighter main-deck space back each other up, and aircraft can be reassigned in a peak or for a late order, which reduces the delay risk from tight space.
Overall the airline suits these types of Chinese shipper: equipment and parts exporters supplying mining, forestry and energy customers in northern Sweden; e-commerce and express customers needing second-tier Nordic cities; and manufacturers with a regional distribution centre in Sweden. Booking through a forwarder brings rate, space, transit time and ground handling together.
For cargo whose destination is outside the network, trucking in Sweden completes the last leg as air-road transport. The Nordic road network is mature and balances transit time against cost, and it suits larger lots with looser deadlines.
Booking path from China
Chinese shippers book this carrier's capacity as follows.
Step one: give the forwarder the cargo details, including description, pieces, gross weight, volume, origin gateway and destination airport. Step two: the forwarder assesses routes and capacity, fixes the mainline plan into Stockholm Arlanda, Gothenburg Landvetter or Malmö and confirms whether the destination city is on the regional network. Step three: book the regional space through the sales department or the ground agent at the Swedish gateway, and the operating carrier or issuing agent issues the air waybill. Step four: cargo departs the Chinese gateway, clears customs at the Swedish gateway and connects to the regional flight. Step five: collect at the destination airport, or complete delivery by truck.
A freight forwarder manages the air waybill, tracking and exception handling throughout. Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited can handle all of these steps and provides a single point of contact from quotation and booking through to delivery.
Documents to prepare before booking include the commercial invoice, packing list, declaration data and the clearance documents Swedish import requires, plus certificates and permits for special cargo. The rate usually covers the international base freight, fuel surcharge and security fee; the Swedish regional sector is charged separately with ground handling, truck delivery at the end is charged as road haulage, and the forwarder sets out all charges at quotation stage. After booking confirmation the forwarder issues the waybill and shares the booking details, and the waybill number allows tracking of the whole journey.
Because capacity mainly serves postal, express and contract customers, there is no public booking entry point for end customers, and a shipper in China contacting the airline directly will usually get no space or rate reply. Going through a licensed forwarder brings several options priced together and avoids the time cost of approaching each station.
Specialist freight value-added services
The cargo business centres on mail, parcels and express traffic within Sweden and the Nordic region, combining passenger belly space with freighter main decks to form a regional network covering the main domestic points. Cargo exported from China to northern Europe and Scandinavia can arrive at Stockholm on a mainline flight from a Chinese gateway and then use the regional network for final distribution. The company has long flown for PostNord Sweden, so its processes mesh well with postal and express systems.
Mail, parcels, small e-commerce packets, vehicle parts, pharmaceuticals, light industrial goods and general cargo are the common types, and they suit shipment from a Chinese gateway onto the regional network. Temperature-controlled cargo, live animals, valuables and dangerous goods need the applicable conditions, packing and documents confirmed with the carrier before booking, and some categories may be restricted; the carrier's confirmation on the day governs.
On ground handling, the Arlanda operation has run from Terminal 3 since October 2024, and handover and sorting of Chinese cargo take place in a designated area of the terminal. The cargo door on the regional aircraft is small, so length, width and height of each piece must be declared in advance to avoid cargo that cannot be loaded on arrival.
On multimodal options, cargo exported from China with a loose deadline or a destination far from an airport can fly to Stockholm and continue by truck, balancing time and cost; sea freight to a Swedish base port and inland transport is the usual choice for bulk cargo. We can quote air, sea-air and other combinations against your cargo so you can balance transit time and cost.
On service commitments, the freight forwarder updates the shipper at four points: booking, handover, transit and arrival. If a flight is rescheduled or capacity changes, an alternative is offered at once. Rates and transit times are stated in full at quotation, and no charge is added beyond surcharges published by the carrier, so costs stay transparent throughout.
Sources: the material is compiled from airline websites, Swedish Transport Agency publications and industry sources. Office addresses, contact details, fleet composition and route arrangements may change with operations, and actual information is subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Common freight questions
Does Amapola Flyg operate cargo flights direct from China?
No public information is available. The company operates no scheduled service direct from China; Chinese cargo clears at a Swedish gateway and joins its regional network.
Which Swedish cities can cargo reach?
Stockholm Arlanda and Jönköping, and in the north Kramfors, Lycksele, Örnsköldsvik, Arvidsjaur and Gällivare, subject to the network on the day of booking.
How long do transit and clearance take?
It depends on the origin gateway, flight connections and clearance speed, usually several days, subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
What information is needed to book?
Cargo name, number of pieces, gross weight, volume, origin port, destination airport and the necessary import and export documents.
Can shippers book directly with the airline?
Its capacity mainly serves postal, express and contract customers, and public channels offer no booking entry point for end customers, so enquire and book through a forwarder.
Who issues the air waybill?
Issued by the actual carrier or the issuing agent; the waybill prefix follows the carrier's system at the time of issue, and Chinese shippers can track the whole journey with the number the forwarder provides.
How is cargo tracked?
Track by air waybill number through the carrier or the freight forwarder; we provide end-to-end tracking and exception notices.
Can special cargo be carried?
Temperature-controlled cargo, live animals, valuables and dangerous goods need their conditions and document requirements confirmed in advance with the carrier.
Which ports in China can I ship from?
Cargo can leave from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Zhengzhou and other main gateways and reaches a Swedish gateway on a direct flight or via a European hub.
How is chargeable weight calculated?
Charged on the greater of gross weight and volumetric weight, with volumetric weight calculated as length times width times height divided by 6000.
Are there limits on individual piece dimensions?
The Fokker 50 cargo door and cabin space are limited, so over-length and overweight pieces must be declared in advance and the loading conditions confirmed, subject to carrier confirmation on the day.
How is cargo cleared after arrival?
Clearance is handled by the consignee or its agent at the Swedish gateway airport, and we can coordinate support from a destination agent.
Do you provide delivery?
Can be arranged through a freight forwarder, combining trucking and customs clearance; depends on the cargo and destination.
What happens if cargo is lost or damaged?
Claims are filed with the carrier or its agent against the air waybill and transport records and handled under the applicable conditions of carriage; we assist with the claim.