The Swedish capital has around six times more airports per capita than London!
Stockholm is served by four airports. This isn't the largest number to serve a given city, as London, for example, has six. However, Stockholm's population of 975,551 means that it has one airport per 243,888 inhabitants. For London, this figure is one per 1.49 million! Let's take a look at these various airports, and the roles they serve.
The largest airport serving Stockholm, and indeed Sweden as a whole, is known as Arlanda (ARN). This three-runway intercontinental hub opened in 1962, and serves today as a base for SAS, Norwegian, and Novair. Ryanair is also increasing its presence at Stockholm Arlanda, having already established itself at Sweden's second-largest airport, which is Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT).
Arlanda is Stockholm's only airport with long-haul routes. SAS serves multiple US destinations, including Chicago and Newark (also served by United from May 2022). Countries including China, Ethiopia, Japan, and Qatar also have direct connections. Finnair launched long-haul services to Thailand and the US last year.
However, for all of Arlanda's merits, it isn't as close to the city as some travelers might like. Reaching Stockholm requires a 20-minute train journey on the Arlanda Express, or 38 minutes on the Stockholms Pendeltåg commuter line. However, for passengers demanding closer proximity to the center, there is another option.
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Bromma (BMA) is Sweden's third-busiest airport, and is situated a more convenient 7.4 km (4.6 miles) from the city. The compact site features a 1,668-meter long runway, and it opened in May 1936 as Stockholm's first airport. Interestingly, it was the first one in Europe to have paved runways from its first day of operations.
Like London City Airport, Stockholm Bromma doesn't have as many routes as Arlanda's intercontinental offering. The majority of flights serve domestic destinations using regional aircraft, operated by regional carriers like Air Leap.
That being said, Brussels Airlines and Finnair offer international services to Brussels and Helsinki. In any case, Bromma's days seem to be numbered, with the government confirming its intentions to replace the airport with housing.
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Stockholm has two more airports, or at least airports with Stockholm in their names. What would a European city be without a low-cost hub (or two, in this case) that is questionably far away from the place it claims to serve. A recent referendum saved Västerås (VST) from closure, meaning its three Ryanair routes will continue.
Västerås is situated 110 km (70 miles) west of Stockholm. Meanwhile, Skavsta Airport (NYO) is a shade closer, at 100 km (62 miles) southwest of the Swedish capital. This is the country's fifth-largest airport, and serves a selection of Wizz Air routes. Ryanair ended its Skavsta services in October, due to it relocating its Stockholm base to the city's aforementioned Arlanda hub.
How many of Stockholm's airports have you used? Do you have a particular favorite? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
Journalist – A graduate in German, Jake has a passion for aviation history, and enjoys sampling new carriers and aircraft even if doing so demands an unorthodox itinerary. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. Based in Norwich, UK.