Press release -

Swedavia to implement action programme in order to address dramatic decline in traffic

Swedavia has decided to implement an action programme in order to adapt its operations in the face of a dramatic decline in passenger volume combined with uncertain market prospects. Operations in the company will be adapted to a minimal level based on the market situation, and at the bigger airports, operations will be concentrated temporarily to certain sections. At the same time, a comprehensive review of the company’s investment portfolio is being carried out.

In March, developments around the COVID-19 (coronavirus) have accelerated, entailing a sharp decrease in demand for flights. For the first two weeks of the month, the decrease in passenger volume was about 30 per cent at Swedavia’s airports, but the downturn is expected to continue as airlines carry out announced cuts to service in the weeks ahead. In recent days, the decline in passenger volume has been 70 to 90 per cent.

“We are in the midst of a social crisis of an unprecedented nature, and our most important priority now is to limit the spread of the disease and protect people’s lives and health. However, the consequences for a company that enables people to meet are dramatic, since our revenue is in principle completely variable and connected in one way or another to passenger volume. Although our financial position is good, drastic and immediate measures are now required,” says Jonas Abrahamsson, Swedavia’s president and CEO.

Operations in the company will be scaled down to a minimum based on the market situation, and operations at the bigger airports will be concentrated temporarily to certain parts of the airport. Meanwhile, a complete review of the company’s investment portfolio is being carried out.

“At the same time, we will do our utmost to safeguard our mission of providing access at all ten of our airports to meet current demand from commercial traffic and air ambulance flights,” says Jonas Abrahamsson.

As a result of these measures and to adapt the organisation to the new situation, Swedavia will temporary and part-time lay off 1,900 out of a total of about 2,500 employees with immediate effect and until further notice. In addition, Swedavia is also giving notice that another 800 employees may be laid off.

“When the situation around COVID-19 has stabilised and demand has once again rebounded, we naturally want to be able to scale up our operations as quickly as possible and then have our fantastic employees back. However, right now, there is enormous uncertainty about future developments, and it is not possible to provide any forecasts as to the future. We therefore also need to prepare ourselves by creating room for manoeuvre as developments unfold,” Jonas Abrahamsson concludes.

For further information, please contact Swedavia’s press office at +46 10-109 01 00 or press@swedavia.se.

Topics

  • Economy

Categories

  • arlanda
  • bromma stockholm airport
  • malmö airport
  • visby airport
  • stockholm arlanda airport
  • swedavia
  • göteborg landvetter airport
  • åre östersund airport
  • umeå airport

Swedavia is a State-owned group that owns, operates and develops ten airports across Sweden. Our role is to create the access Sweden needs to facilitate travel, business and meetings – in Sweden, in Europe and around the world. Safe, satisfied passengers are the foundation of our business. Swedavia is a world leader in developing airports with the least possible environmental impact. The Group has revenue of over 6.2 billion Swedish kronor and some 3,050 employees.

Contacts

Related content

  • Bromma Stockholm Airport wins international customer experience award

    The international airport operators trade organisation, Airports Council International (ACI), publishes an annual ranking of airports around the world that provide the best customer experience to passengers - according to the passengers themselves. Swedavia’s Bromma Stockholm Airport is one of the airports that have now won.

  • New direct route to London from Luleå with SAS

    Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will establish a new direct route between Luleå Airport and London during the winter season 2020/2021. The route will be highly appreciated by the local tourism industry as well as business and leisure travellers.

  • Swedavia’s traffic statistics for February 2020

    In February, over 2,631,000 passengers flew via Swedavia’s ten airports, which is a decrease of 6 per cent compared to the same month last year. Profit was positively affected by the extra leap year day during the month. The consequences of the coronavirus outbreak had a limited impact, but it is expected to affect the passenger trend to a much greater extent in March.

  • Swedavia publishes its Annual and Sustainability Report for 2019

    Swedavia’s Annual and Sustainability Report for 2019 is available as of Friday on Swedavia’s website. The report describes Swedavia’s sustainability work and performance during the year as well as its financial position at year-end. The beginning of 2020 has been dominated by the Covid-19 virus and a dramatic downturn in traffic and passenger volume.

  • Swedavia’s traffic statistics for March 2020

    In March, more than 1,317,000 passengers flew via Swedavia’s ten airports, a full 60 per cent decrease compared to the same month in 2019. The effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic had a significant impact since airlines cut all or reduced their traffic. The downturn accelerated during the month and has continued in April, so far with a decrease of about 97 per cent.

  • Swedavia’s traffic statistics for April 2020

    In April, 63,000 passengers flew via Swedavia’s ten airports, a full 98 per cent decrease compared to April last year, when Swedavia had more than 3.2 million passengers. The full impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic was evident during the month, and a number of the airports had no scheduled service. Traffic is expected to remain at very low levels in the near future.

  • Swedavia’s airports to donate personal protective equipment to health care

    As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an increased need for personal protective equipment for healthcare employees in Sweden. Swedavia’s airports are now contributing by donating equipment such as face masks and protective eyewear to health care facilities throughout the country.