Now begins one of the most traffic-intensive long weekends of the year. And both airlines and train companies are reporting heavy pressure this year. This applies if you are going to travel in the country this Christmas.
The roads
Weather and behavior around the new pandemic increase will determine the traffic situation on Sweden's roads this Christmas.
Booking pressure to the mountains has been greater this year than last year, and travel north can therefore be expected to increase slightly. This applies over both Christmas and New Year.
The big travel day is expected to be December 23rd, with a start as early as the afternoon of December 22nd.
The major so-called arteries in Christmas traffic are E45 from Karlstad north towards Dalafjällen, National Road 26 from Kristinehamn and north, National Road 70 from Enköping towards Dalarna and E4 north to Sundsvall, as well as the detours from Gävle towards Dalarna and E14 towards Åre and Jämtland Mountains.
Changing temperatures mean an increased risk of slipping. The west coast has so far been particularly affected by the changing weather, but the risk is high throughout the country. The Swedish Transport Administration advises choosing roads that are separated by traffic, keeping a lower speed and following weather reports carefully.
The trains
Booking pressure is high during the Christmas and New Year's weekend, where most of the routes between Stockholm-Gothenburg and Stockholm-Malmö are sold out. Even the night trains to Umeå and Jämtland are basically fully booked. This also applies to trains to larger cities such as Norrköping and Linköping. However, individual seats on 23rd and 24th December can still be found.
– Some days we are up to the same levels as we were before the pandemic, says SJ's press communicator Anton Almqvist-Källén.
SJ follows the recommendations of the Public Health Authority and urges passengers to wear face masks and not travel if they have symptoms. Passengers are also advised to be out in good time.
There are currently no indications that pandemic-related restrictions will be introduced in train traffic for the Christmas holidays. The trains will therefore run full as usual, meaning that no empty seats will be left from an infection control point of view. However, SJ is prepared for, and is positive about, a possible requirement for proof of vaccination.
Cancellations are generally subject to the flexibility or rebooking allowance purchased with the ticket. No changes will be made.
Until the end of the year, up to 30 departures a day will be canceled due to staff shortages and sick leave.
The flight
Restrictions, documentation requirements and increased manual handling have resulted in heavy pressure on the country's airports. And this is expected to continue in the coming days. Travel companies therefore advise travelers to be out well in advance, at least three hours before departure at Arlanda, for both international and domestic flights.
For domestic flights, booking pressure is at its highest on December 22 and 23, according to SAS. And then mainly to northern Sweden. Flight frequency is during some periods at the same level as before the pandemic to meet demand. Some of the most popular departures are fully booked, but there are still trips left to buy.
– What we are seeing now for Christmas traffic is that on some days there is traffic that is reminiscent of the volumes we had before the pandemic, says Freja Annamatz, press manager at SAS.
Face mask requirements again apply on all domestic flights.
According to the travel companies SVT spoke to, international trips over the Christmas holiday are almost sold out, with the exception of a few spare seats. Travelers are urged to follow the travel companies' own recommendations regarding valid documentation, testing, restrictions, face masks and departure times.
The rental cars
Demand for rental cars is high during the Christmas and New Year holidays. It is particularly difficult to get a rental car in metropolitan areas, where the demand is mainly for larger cars. Compared to the same period last year, bookings have increased by 30 percent, according to the car rental company Hertz. And it is at the airports that demand has increased the most.
Smaller rental cars are still generally available. The best chance of finding a larger rental car is in smaller towns in the country.
One difference from last year, when the rental car industry was hit hard by the pandemic, is that more people have booked further in advance.
Source: svt.se
