The debate surrounding the future of Stockholm’s Bromma Airport and the region’s overall air connectivity is heating up. Two Liberal politicians, Carl Otto Engberg and Nicole Forslund, representing the southern municipalities of Huddinge and Haninge respectively, are advocating for a new electric-powered airport in their region. They argue that the continued growth and development of southern Stockholm, with projects like the Tvärförbindelse Södertörn highway, Spårväg Syd tram line, and numerous housing and employment initiatives, necessitates a more accessible airport. They highlight the inconvenience and time-consuming nature of traveling to Arlanda Airport, located north of the city, for residents of southern Stockholm. Engberg and Forslund emphasize the potential of electric aviation to provide faster and more environmentally friendly travel options, suggesting that a dual airport system, with Arlanda serving long-haul flights and a new southern airport handling regional electric flights, would be ideal for a metropolitan area the size of Stockholm.
Engberg and Forslund acknowledge the increasing prevalence of hybrid meetings but maintain that Bromma Airport has been essential for business travel, particularly for day trips within Sweden. They believe Bromma has reached its operational limits and that its closure is inevitable. While not specifying a location for the proposed new airport, the politicians stress that the focus should be on initiating the conversation about electric aviation and its potential. They point to the rapid advancements in this sector, citing a Swedish company developing a 19-passenger electric aircraft with a 400 km range, expected to be certified by 2026. While acknowledging that the market viability remains to be seen, they believe commercially viable electric planes will be operating on European routes within the next five to ten years.
Aida Hadzialic, representing the Social Democrats, offers a counterpoint to Engberg and Forslund’s proposal. While agreeing that strong regional air capacity is crucial and understanding the desire for a conveniently located airport in southern Stockholm, Hadzialic believes the focus should be on strengthening Arlanda, not fragmenting air traffic. She argues that airlines prefer operating from a central hub like Arlanda and that diverting resources to a new airport would be counterproductive. Hadzialic points to a recent meeting with Swedavia, the airport operator, and SAS, the airline, indicating their commitment to enhancing Arlanda’s attractiveness and expanding domestic routes.
Hadzialic emphasizes the need for government intervention to improve Arlanda’s accessibility. She advocates for the removal of the extra fee levied on train passengers traveling to or from Arlanda and for renegotiating the agreement with the Arlanda Express operator to lower the cost of public transport to the airport. This is in response to a 2023 study showing a 25% decrease in Arlanda’s connectivity since 2018, meaning fewer direct flight options. Hadzialic warns of the risk of Stockholm losing ground to Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport, which is expanding its international routes, including some to Swedish destinations. She fears that Kastrup could become the dominant Nordic hub, even for domestic Swedish flights, further isolating Stockholm and negatively impacting the region’s competitiveness.
The discussion around the future of air travel in the Stockholm region is complex, with varying perspectives on how best to meet the region’s growing needs. While Engberg and Forslund advocate for a new electric airport in the south, Hadzialic emphasizes the importance of consolidating resources and improving the accessibility of the existing Arlanda Airport. The debate ultimately revolves around balancing the desire for convenient regional access with the need for a strong, competitive, and centrally located international hub.
The historical context of air travel in Sweden provides a backdrop to this debate. Early aviation milestones like the first flight in Sweden in 1909 and the establishment of Lindarängen seaplane port in 1921 demonstrate the long-standing importance of air travel in the region. The subsequent development of airports like Bromma in 1936, Arlanda in 1962, and Landvetter in 1977 reflects the evolving demands of air travel and the ongoing efforts to adapt infrastructure to meet these needs. The current discussion about Bromma’s future and the potential for a new electric airport represents the latest chapter in this ongoing evolution. The decision-makers will need to carefully consider the economic, environmental, and logistical implications of each option to ensure that the region’s air travel infrastructure remains efficient, sustainable, and caters to the needs of all its residents.
