Message to Government – secure level market for airports in Sweden

In a letter to the Minister for Finance, Magdalena Andersson, and the Minister for Infrastructure, Tomas Eneroth, the importance of keeping a level market has been stressed by Urban Granström, Mayor of Nyköping and Monica Johansson, chairperson of the Regional Board, Region Sörmland. The Aviation Industry has been hit very hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments and policy-makers around the World are considering steps to ensure the survival of Airports. As the ownership of Airports differ considerably, it is of utmost importance to secure a level market.

In the letter Mr Granström and Ms Johansson refers to a report made in 2015 by WSP on the longterm economical effects of Stockholm Skavsta Airport. The report ” Stockholm Skavsta Airport motor för flygplatsutveckling och tillväxt” (available in Swedish only) includes three scenarios; no passengers, the Airport is closed, 28 flights per day (ca 2.5 million passengers) and 6 million passengers. The first two have strong resemblance to the current situation and are thus highlighted. See below. Figure 14 shows zero passengers and figure 16 around 2.5 million passengers. (SSA had 2.3 million in 2019 and was the only Airport in Sweden with growing numbers the first quarter of 2020.)