The year was 1975, and Rolf, with a vision, began his journey. With a dream of offering amazing experiences to travelers around the world, he founded his travel company, Rolfs Flyg & Buss. Although he started with limited resources and a temporary office at Vårväderstorget, Rolf’s passion and dedication were greater. In the beginning, the company mainly offered summer trips to Finland. Rolf himself drove and guided the tours, creating an intimate atmosphere where travelers felt like part of a family. Destinations such as Poland with the historic Arkona Hotel in Szczecin, the beautiful Rhine Valley with the charming Ewige Lampe Hotel in Assmanshausen, as well as Åland and Öhblom’s guesthouse, quickly became popular choices for Rolf’s adventurous travelers.
The year 1989 became a milestone when the company moved to new offices at Vågmästareplatsen. The new location provided space for growth and the opportunity to offer even more exciting trips.
The year 1991 was marked by a significant increase in cruises to Åland. Rolfs Flyg & Buss offered unique journeys to this beautiful archipelago, where travelers could enjoy picturesque landscapes and unique cultural experiences. It quickly became a very popular destination with many travelers.
But in 1994, the progress of Rolfs Flyg & Buss cruises came to an abrupt halt. The Estonia disaster shook the entire travel industry, and the demand for cruises dropped dramatically. Rolf and his team faced a true test, but with determination and perseverance, Rolfs Flyg & Buss stayed on course and quickly shifted its full focus to exciting coach trips.
After many successful years for Rolf and his group travel company, in 2006 he passed the baton to his son Emanuel Karlsson, who took over as CEO of the company. With a passion for travel, extensive knowledge in IT & e-commerce, and a vision to grow and develop the business, Emanuel led the company into the modern era.
In 2010, the company took the next step by launching extensive air travel within Europe. Now group travelers could discover gems across the entire continent together and fly to their dream destinations with ease, all guided by skilled tour leaders, just like on the coach trips.
A defining moment came in 2013: the introduction of air travel three years earlier had become a success, and the company reached a turnover of 100 million SEK for the first time. A wonderful confirmation that our travelers truly appreciate the journeys.
The year 2014 became another milestone. Rolfs Flyg & Buss expanded its range of trips and now offered air travel to destinations all over the world. Travelers could now experience the mystical temples of Asia, the wild African savannah, the vibrant energy of North America, and the colorful culture of South America. Or why not a tour of Japan? That same year, the company was honored by being named a Gazelle company by Dagens Industri. A fine recognition of success and the constant pursuit of delivering outstanding service and memorable experiences to all customers.
The days of joy and pride continued in 2015 when the company was once again named a Gazelle company by Dagens Industri. A recognition of continuous growth driven by satisfied customers.
In 2016, the company continued to make history. The move went to new, modern offices on Folkungagatan, and Rolfs Flyg & Buss established itself as Sweden’s largest group and round trip organizer. Yet the focus remained on being more than just a travel agency—the feeling of a big family bringing together adventure-seeking travelers from all over the country to share incredible experiences. To celebrate and thank its loyal customers, the company arranges spectacular annual events—completely free of charge. It all began with free coach trips to the shopping paradise of Ullared—over one weekend, around 12,000 customers from all over the country traveled to Ullared, creating an atmosphere of joy and togetherness. Today, the big highlight is Rolfs’ summer tour, which during the summer visits cities all over the country to offer shows, sing-alongs, and music quizzes.
The year 2017 became yet another strong confirmation that the company was on the right path. For the third time, the company was named a Gazelle company by Dagens Industri. At the same time, Rolfs Flyg & Buss gained nationwide attention for its efforts to encourage more people to dare to travel alone. The company’s inspiring message spread like wildfire, giving courage to those longing for adventure on their own—the group trip was the key.
Rolfs Flyg & Buss continued its progress, and 2018 became yet another year of being named a Gazelle company by Dagens Industri. They stood strong as an industry leader in innovation and continuous growth.
The year 2019 marked a huge milestone for the company. With a turnover of 725 million SEK and over 120,000 satisfied customers, Rolfs Flyg & Buss had grown into a force to be reckoned with in the travel industry. With an impressive team of over 400 tour leaders and 4,000 departures, Rolfs Flyg & Buss was ready to offer even more unforgettable experiences to its travelers.
But 2020 would become a year of tough challenges. The pandemic paralyzed the travel industry, and the company faced an uncertain future. Despite this, they showed their care and dedication to their customers by quickly refunding money and providing support to all those affected. Despite the setbacks, their drive was not extinguished—quite the opposite. The year 2020 also marked the acquisition of the charter operator Solresor, a testament to their determination to overcome even the toughest obstacles.
In 2022, as the pandemic slowly subsided, both travel and Rolfs Flyg & Buss made a strong comeback. After a tough period, they were back in full swing once again. With renewed energy and an undiminished passion, they continued to offer exciting journeys and open doors to new adventures for all eager travelers. The journey is far from over. With every successful milestone and every challenge along the way, Rolfs Flyg & Buss continues to grow and inspire through satisfied travelers. With dedication and outstanding service, Rolfs Flyg & Buss will keep offering group trips, exploring the world together with travelers, and creating memories for a lifetime.