Swedavia’s airports experienced a dynamic month in November, welcoming more than 2.3 million travellers. The passenger numbers closely mirrored those of 2023, revealing a nuanced landscape of international growth and domestic contraction.
International travel demonstrated resilience, showing a three percent increase during the month. Conversely, domestic travel experienced a notable downturn, declining by 12 percent.
November International vs Domestic Movements
International travel emerged as a bright spot in November, recording a three percent increase and highlighting the continued global mobility of travelers.
This growth contrasts sharply with domestic travel, which experienced a significant 12 percent decline. The shift underscores changing travel preferences and potential economic factors influencing domestic transportation choices.
A deeper dive into November’s passenger statistics reveals intricate travel trends. International passenger numbers swelled to over 1.7 million, while domestic travel contracted to approximately 614,000. The overall air travel volume was marginally lower—just one percent below November 2023—with total traffic reaching 78 percent of 2019’s pre-pandemic levels.
New Air Routes
The month’s most promising development was the strategic expansion of air routes, particularly through Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
Two notable airlines announced exciting new long-haul connections that promise to enhance Sweden’s global connectivity.
Norse Atlantic Airways will introduce a direct route to Bangkok in winter 2025, while ANA will commence flights between Arlanda and Tokyo in January 2025.
“These investments represent more than just new flight paths,” explained Jonas Abrahamsson, Swedavia’s President and CEO. “They symbolize our commitment to strengthening Sweden’s international presence and economic competitiveness. Each new route opens doors for business, tourism, and cultural exchange.”
Winter Season Highlights
December 2024 and the upcoming winter season will see several new route additions:
- Dubai-Arlanda service with Norwegian
- Pristina-Arlanda connection by Trade Air
- Copenhagen-Kiruna route with SAS
- Paris-Kiruna flights operated by Air France
Additional route expansions are anticipated during winter and spring 2025, promising further diversification of travel options.
Swedavia Airports in Focus
Stockholm Arlanda
Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden’s aviation hub, demonstrated remarkable resilience. The airport served over 1.6 million passengers, maintaining consistent performance with the previous year. International travel showed particular strength, growing by four percent to more than 1.3 million passengers.
Domestic travel, however, decreased by 15 percent to around 248,000 travelers. Impressively, the airport has recovered to 86 percent of its pre-pandemic operational capacity.
Göteborg Landvetter
Göteborg Landvetter Airport presented a similar narrative of stability and gradual recovery. The airport welcomed over 359,000 travelers, with international passenger numbers increasing by three percent to 315,000.
Domestic travel experienced a more pronounced decline of 20 percent, dropping to about 43,000 passengers. Currently, the airport operates at 75 percent of its pre-pandemic levels.
Other Airports
The performance across Swedavia’s network of airports varied significantly. Umeå and Luleå airports stood out, displaying the strongest year-over-year performance compared to November 2023.
In contrast, Ronneby Airport faced more challenging conditions. Among regional airports, Luleå Airport demonstrated the most robust recovery relative to 2019 benchmarks.
Summary
Arlanda continues to lead the recovery efforts, consistently showing the most substantial progress in rebuilding passenger volumes. This leadership reflects strategic management and the airport’s critical role in Sweden’s transportation infrastructure.
As airlines continue refining their air traffic programs through winter and spring 2025, the aviation landscape remains dynamic and promising. The ongoing adaptations suggest a sector actively responding to changing travel demands and global economic shifts.
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