March saw approximately 2.5 million travelers passing through Swedavia’s ten airports across Sweden.
This figure represents a substantial recovery to 75 percent of pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019. However, it also indicates a marginal decrease in numbers compared to the same period in 2024.
This slight downturn can be partially attributed to external disruptions, including recent strikes and the temporary shutdown of London Heathrow Airport, impacting international flight schedules.
Despite this minor overall dip, the landscape of air travel in Sweden presents a nuanced picture, with international travel demonstrating resilience while domestic travel continues on a downward trajectory.
Looking ahead, April promises to inject renewed dynamism into Swedavia’s network, particularly at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, with the introduction of new and resumed international routes as part of the summer traffic program.
Swedavia Airports March Highlights
International Travel Steady, Domestic Travel Declines
The latest figures from Swedavia reveal a clear divergence between international and domestic travel trends.
While international passenger numbers have remained stable compared to March 2024, domestic travel experienced a further contraction.
Domestic travel registered a 4 percent decrease across Swedavia’s network. This ongoing decline in domestic air travel reflects broader shifts in travel preferences and potentially increased reliance on alternative modes of transportation within Sweden.
Stockholm Arlanda Leads with Overall Growth
Bucking the national trend, Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden’s largest aviation hub, reported a positive overall increase in traveler numbers, up by 4 percent compared to March of the previous year.
This growth was primarily fueled by a significant surge in domestic travel, which saw an impressive increase of almost 25 percent. Conversely, international travel at Arlanda experienced a marginal decrease during the same period.
In total, just over 1.8 million passengers journeyed through Arlanda in March, representing a strong recovery to 86 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
The airport’s international traffic volume remained robust at 1.4 million travelers, mirroring the figures from March 2024, while domestic passenger numbers climbed to over 361,000.
Göteborg Landvetter Sees a Minor Setback
Göteborg Landvetter Airport is Swedavia’s second busiest airport. It recorded a slight decrease in overall traveler numbers in March compared to the previous year. In March, it served just over 368,000 passengers.
Similar to the national trend, this dip was driven by a 12 percent decline in domestic travel. Local demand fell to just over 43,000 passengers.
International travel at Landvetter remained stable at 324,000 travelers. Overall, passenger volumes at Landvetter reached 75 percent of the levels recorded before the pandemic.
Northern Airports Show Strong Growth
These airports show a distinct contrast to the slight declines observed at the larger airports. Swedavia’s northern airports enjoyed robust traffic growth compared to March 2024.
Kiruna Airport led the way with an impressive 15 percent increase in passenger numbers. Umeå Airport and Luleå Airport also experienced significant growth, reporting increases of 10 percent and 7 percent, respectively.
This strong performance in the northern regions suggests a healthy demand for air travel within these areas.
Bromma Stockholm Faces Challenges
Bromma Stockholm Airport continues to exhibit the weakest trend in passenger numbers compared to March 2024.
This ongoing decline is largely attributed to the changes in BRA’s (Braathens Regional Airlines) traffic operations.
It was also affected by BRA’s increased collaboration with SAS at Arlanda Airport since the beginning of the year. This strategic shift has resulted in reduced traffic volume at Bromma.
Looking Ahead
April promises a boost to connectivity, particularly for Stockholm Arlanda Airport, with the commencement of the summer traffic program.
Ryanair is set to launch a new route connecting Arlanda to Sarajevo, while Animawings will introduce a new direct service to Bucharest from Arlanda.
Furthermore, Delta Airlines will resume its popular seasonal service between Arlanda and New York, further enhancing international travel options from Sweden’s primary airport.
These new and returning routes are expected to contribute positively to passenger numbers in the coming months.
While Swedavia experienced a marginal dip in overall passenger numbers in March, the underlying trends reveal a stable international travel market and a continued decline in domestic travel.
Stockholm Arlanda Airport stands out with its overall growth driven by a strong domestic performance.
The northern airports also demonstrate positive momentum. The upcoming summer traffic program sees new and resumed international routes from Arlanda. It signals a positive outlook for future passenger growth and connectivity within Swedavia’s airport network.
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The post Swedavia Airports: Domestic Travel Down as International Numbers Hold Steady appeared first on AviationSource News.