Air travel this autumn has started off on a positive note, with stable performance driven by strong demand, particularly for flights to European destinations. In September, Swedavia’s airports recorded almost three million passengers, a 5% increase compared to last year.
Notable developments in the air travel industry this season include the introduction of low-cost carrier Wizzair at Stockholm Arlanda and several new investments in routes and destinations.
The performance at Swedavia’s regional airports varied during the month, with Luleå Airport showing the strongest growth compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Towards the end of September, Arlanda Airport unveiled its new marketplace, complemented by an upgraded security checkpoint, aimed at enhancing the overall airport experience for travelers.
Sustained Demand After a Strong Summer
“After a strong summer season, there is sustained demand for flights, with a stable start for travel this autumn. The trend of stronger growth in international travel compared to domestic travel also continued in September. Travel thus remains a priority, no matter whether it is to meet friends and family, for a holiday or for work. We are also pleased to be able to welcome more airlines, which enhances our offering of destinations and routes. The carrier Wizzair is setting up operations for the first time at Arlanda, starting in October,” says Jonas Abrahamsson, Swedavia’s president and CEO.
“The development of Arlanda continues, and in September, the first part of the new 11,000 square meter Marketplace – the biggest investment ever in the airport’s commercial offering – opened up. In the Marketplace, our aim is to be able to offer something for everyone, and through competition at the airport itself and with similar outlets in central Stockholm, we want to improve value for money. Together with the new state-of-the-art security checkpoint, we are now taking significant steps in Arlanda’s development and enhanced attractiveness, with an improved and smoother experience for our passengers,” notes Jonas Abrahamsson.
New Airline Operations at Sweden’s Airports
Among the developments this autumn in terms of new airline operations and new routes is the carrier Wizzair, which has chosen to set up operations at Stockholm Arlanda. In conjunction with this launch, the airline introduced two routes via Arlanda to Budapest and Gdansk, starting in late October.
In September, Eurowings began flying between Arlanda and Beirut. Ryanair plans to start up three new international routes between Arlanda and Tirana, Marrakesh and Paris in October.
At Luleå Airport, Detur will launch a charter service for the autumn school break to Chania at the end of the month.
Passenger Numbers at Swedavia’s Airports
In September, Swedavia’s airports saw a significant increase in passenger numbers, reaching nearly 3 million passengers. This marks a 5 percent growth compared to the same period last year and indicates a recovery to about 80 percent of pre-pandemic travel levels in 2019. The surge in passengers is primarily driven by international travel, particularly through Stockholm Arlanda Airport, the largest airport in Sweden.
Specifically, international travel in September witnessed an impressive 8 percent growth, with over 2 million passengers. On the other hand, domestic travel experienced a slight decline of 5 percent, accommodating more than 740,000 passengers.
Stockholm Arlanda Airport alone welcomed almost 2 million passengers during the month, showing a commendable 6 percent increase from September last year. International travel at this airport saw an 8 percent boost, serving approximately 1.7 million passengers. Meanwhile, domestic travel witnessed a modest 2 percent decrease, accommodating over 300,000 passengers.
Göteborg Landvetter Airport also experienced positive growth, with almost 500,000 passengers in September. This represents an 8 percent increase compared to the same period last year. International travel at this airport grew by 11 percent, serving over 400,000 passengers, while domestic travel faced a decline of 12 percent, accommodating more than 57,000 passengers.
However, the trend was mixed at Malmö Airport and Bromma Stockholm Airport, where passenger numbers decreased by 9 percent and 10 percent, respectively, compared to September last year. This was primarily due to a decrease in domestic travel volume during September.
On a more positive note, Visby Airport and Åre Östersund Airport, as well as Luleå Airport, experienced notable growth in September. Visby and Åre Östersund airports particularly stood out in terms of regional passenger growth compared to the same period last year. Additionally, Luleå Airport demonstrated impressive growth, surpassing pre-pandemic traffic levels from 2019.
Swedavia’s September traffic trend – number of passengers:
More detailed information about Swedavia’s traffic figures and statistics is available (in Swedish) on Swedavia’s website: Statistik | Om Swedavia