Swedish airport operator, Swedavia, has reported that 446,000 passengers flew via the ten airports in its portfolio during May, a decreased of 88% compared to May 2019. Domestic traffic fared better than international traffic but demand remains strongly affected by the pandemic. However, despite the uncertain situation, Swedavia can now see rays of hope and early signs of a recovery.
Of the total 446,000 passengers in May, 254,000 were international passengers, a decrease of 90% compared to May 2019. Meanwhile, domestic travel decreased 83% to 192,000 passengers compared to May 2019 when the number of domestic passengers was 1,156,000.
Jonas Abrahamsson, Swedavia’s President and CEO described May as another month that was strongly affected by the pandemic. However, he also highlighted that “there are now more rays of hope than in a long while. While there is a great deal of uncertainty, there are clear signs of a recovery later this summer and in the autumn.”
He added that “for summer, we that conditions both for travelling and for safer travel have improved. Airlines are resuming and expanding service, though on a smaller scale compared to before. The spread of the coronavirus is slowing as the vaccine rollout continues, and we also see countries starting to open up and travel restrictions being lifted. We know that many people have a strong desire to travel and that there is strong pent-up demand for travel.
“However, the trend going forward depends entirely on progress in vaccination efforts and on nothing unforeseen happening with the pandemic. Furthermore the use of health certificates, which will facilitate free movement and travel, is critical,” he continued.
At Swedavia’s seven regional airports, the number of passengers in May decreased between 59% and 93% to 89,000 passengers. Kiruna Airport continues to be the hub that has done best, likewise in May, with a decrease of 59%. Visby Airport was the regional airport that did second best in May, with a decrease of 75%.
At Sweden’s largest airport, Stockholm Arlanda (pictured), air travel decreased 88% to 271,000 in May compared to the same month in 2019. At Goteborg Landvetter Airport, air travel decreased 89% to 64,000 passengers in May and at Stockholm Bromma Airport, air traffic decreased 91% to 21,000 in May, compared to 2019 figures for the same month.
In the 15 months since the start of the pandemic, Swedavia has lost a total of nearly 42 million passengers.
