Swedavia has decided on significant rental discounts for companies operating at the state-owned company's ten airports.
”It's about them being able to overwinter and return,” says Marketing Director Charlotte Ljunggren.
Swedavia introduced rent relief on March 17, when the corona crisis suddenly paralyzed travel. According to Ljunggren, restaurants and shops were exempt from paying rent during the initial crisis period until the end of April. When the government directive and the EU's reviews are complete, Swedavia chooses to restructure the support measures.
Restaurants and shops, which are included in the government's support package, will receive a 50 percent rent reduction. Swedavia, which is state-owned but lives on variable income, has also chosen to introduce 25 percent rent reductions for businesses that are not included in the government's support package but are strongly affected by the reduced travel. The rent reduction applies retroactively from March 17.
”"There are ticket counters for airlines, travel agencies, rental car companies' ticket counters and taxi companies' fixed fees for entering the airport. We choose the principle of equal treatment, so they also get relief from March 17th to the end of June," says Charlotte Ljunggren.
”"We will apply the government's package in full. As recently as Monday, the final regulation came. Our previous package included restaurants and shops, there were around 50 operators. With the government's package as a benchmark, we are up to around a hundred operators who will receive relief," continues Ljunggren, who is Director of Market and Commercial Development at Swedavia.
Swedavia, along with state-owned companies Jernhusen and Vattenvall, have been summoned to the Riksdag's industry committee to account for how they have acted during the pandemic. The Moderates' industry policy spokesperson Lars Hjälmered has expressed criticism to Dagens Industri, where he accused state-owned companies of having "acted deeply immorally during the corona crisis.".
Swedavia welcomes the opportunity to explain its efforts to the committee.
”"We see it as an opportunity to tell our tenants what we have done during this period. Then you can assume that politics has not had time to read up on everything that has been done," says Ljunggren, who notes that Swedavia has laid off 1,900 people to varying degrees and given notice to 800 people.
She notes that the situation is difficult for the entire industry:
”"We are basically without operating income and are currently losing around SEK 500 million in revenue each month, but at the same time we are also dependent on the survival of our partners and tenants."”
Source: TT
