In October, demand for air travel continues to hold up, and a total of 2.9 million passengers flew via Swedavia's ten airports, an increase of 6 percent compared to October last year. Autumn holiday travel has started strongly at the end of the month, and demand continues to be higher for international travel within Europe, while the trend of a weaker recovery for domestic travel continues. During October, Wizz Air, among others, has established itself as a new airline at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, while several new international routes are strengthening the offer in connection with the airlines' winter traffic programs. Several new charter routes are also being added to Swedavia's regional airports, including TUI's charter route from Luleå Airport to Tenerife in early November.
– Despite challenging external factors, the number of travelers at our airports increased by 6 percent in October compared to October last year. Meeting each other both privately and professionally through travel is something that we continue to prioritize. International travel, primarily to Europe from Arlanda, continues to be the engine of development, while the recovery for domestic travel, as before, has a weaker development during the month. Some of our regional airports such as Luleå Airport are showing strength and are almost back to pre-pandemic travel levels. But overall, domestic travel at our airports remains at around 70 percent of pre-pandemic travel levels in 2019, says Jonas Abrahamsson, Swedavia's CEO and Group Chief Executive.
The news in the airlines' winter traffic programs that begin at the end of October and November includes the airline Wizz Air, which has now established itself at Stockholm Arlanda at the end of the month, with two flights between Arlanda and Budapest and Gdansk respectively. Ryanair also opened three new international routes between Arlanda and Paris, Marrakech and Tirana during the month. In early November, SAS will open a new route between Arlanda and Agadir. Several charter news will be added during the winter via Swedavia's regional airports, including TUI's charter route between Luleå Airport and Tenerife in early November.
A total of 2.9 million passengers travelled via Swedavia's airports in October, which is an increase of 6 percent compared to October 2022 and constitutes 81 percent of the pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The development continues to be primarily driven by increased international travel via Sweden's largest airport, Stockholm Arlanda Airport. International travel increased overall by 8 percent to 2.1 million passengers compared to October last year, while total domestic travel remains essentially at the same levels as October 2022.
Stockholm Arlanda Airport had 1.9 million passengers during the month, an increase of 7 percent compared to October last year. International travel increased by 8 percent to 1.6 million passengers, while domestic travel increased by 3 percent to almost 330,000 passengers.
Gothenburg Landvetter Airport had 480,000 passengers in October, an increase of 10 percent compared to October last year. International travel increased by 12 percent to 418,000 passengers, while domestic travel decreased by 4 percent to 62,000 passengers.
Other Swedavia airports had a varied development during October. Travel at Malmö Airport and Bromma Stockholm Airport had a weaker development, driven by a slightly reduced domestic travel during October, and the number of travelers decreased by 8 percent and 5 percent respectively compared to October last year.
Luleå Airport and Åre Östersund Airport are the regional Swedavia airports that had the best passenger growth in October compared to October last year. Luleå Airport is also the airport that had the best traffic growth compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
According to the press release.
October traffic development – number of passengers:
