Spaceport Sweden introduces its first space tourism product: northern lights flights

The collaborators Spaceport Sweden, ICEHOTEL, Swedavia/Kiruna Airport and Scandinavian Airlink, are launching an exclusive space tourism product that brings you closer to the magical and mythical northern lights: northern lights flights.

”The northern lights are a natural space phenomenon. The phenomenon is also the base to Swedish space activities and research, which started 60 years ago. Northern lights flights are Spaceport Sweden’s first space tourism product and with it we offer an exclusive possibility to see and experience the mythical northern lights from a front row seat”, says Karin Nilsdotter, CEO at Spaceport Sweden.

The Kiruna region is situated within the auroral zone and has among the best prerequisites in the world to see northern lights. There are several climate zones in the region that together with good weather conditions increases the chances of seeing northern lights. Moreover, northern lights are predicted to become more and more frequent over the next few years due to increased activity on the sun, according to the Institute for Space Physics in Kiruna, Sweden.

The premier flight takes place 15th of January 2012 and on it is Renata Chlumska, member of Spaceport Sweden’s Advisory Board and Sweden’s first female space tourist.

”Space tourism is not only a future utopia – it happens here and now. Sweden has through Spaceport Sweden taken a leading position in establishing this new business and that’s fantastic. I look forward to learn more about and experience the space phenomenon northern lights”, says Renata Chlumska.

The premier flights will be followed by three more flights the 5th, 12th and 19th of February. The tour starts at ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi with a short presentation about northern lights and a transfer to Spaceport Sweden where an airplane with seats for nine passengers will take you above the clouds with the northern lights outside the airplane windows.

”We’re looking at a completely new and up and coming industry where Spaceport Sweden’s goal is to make space available to anyone by developing innovative services and experiences that are unique to the world and where space is the platform. This will create atractiveness for the whole of Sweden”, says Karin Nilsdotter.

The Northern Lights Flights can be booked via Discover The World as of 17th of October 2011. There are three types of package deals to choose between: a basic, deluxe and a charter package deal that is bookable all days between 1st of January and 15th of March 2012.

Meet the Swedish Icehotel chef Alexander Meier



Alex Meier with Harrods restaurant manager at the SeaGrill bar

Hello Alex, welcome to London! You have created two dishes for the SeaGrill bar at Harrods, one with arctic char and one crab mousseline. How come you chose those two?
I created them because I think they represent Swedish Lapland. Both dishes are made with fresh Swedish products and if closing your eyes while eating it, you can only imagine how fresh, clean and mysterious the north of Sweden is.

Sounds yummy! What´s your view on Swedish food in general?
This is how it is; we have the forests, the rivers and the mountains that are full of products and flavours. If you make a fusion of these products; mixing for example the traditional Sami food with new fresh ideas, you can create amazing dishes.

You are the head chef at the Swedish Icehotel, what will be on the menu this year?
The new menu for the winter season was created by my F and B manager Stefan Benjaminsson and I. We are going to have exclusive products from Swedish Lapland with a hint of French cuisine. People will be given the chance to taste products from the forests; like reindeer, from the rivers; like arctic char and from the mountains; like cloudberries.

The season at the Icehotel starts on the 3rd of December, what are you looking forward to the most?
For our guests to come and eat and enjoy the greatest food they ever had..!

You are originally from Switzerland, how does it feel living in Sweden?
I love Swedish Lapland. Working with people that are like family to me, I´m living the dream.

Alexander´s dishes will be served at Harrods SeaGrill bar until October 19. To taste these gorgeous ingredients and recipes in their native environment, fly direct to the ICEHOTEL in Swedish Lapland this winter with the experts Discover the World (www.discover-the-world.co.uk/icehotel), three night trips from £1,093 per person.

Discover the Swedish world at Harrods 3-19 October

Absolut Svea (ginger and apple) with cloudberry liquor in frozen glass served with...

...Swedish Arctic char and crayfish at Harrods SeaGrill bar

The masterchef himself, Alexander Meier, from the Swedish Icehotel