The government's decision to abolish the flight tax provides increased opportunities for Ryanair. Two new aircraft are being added to the company's Swedish fleet when, from next summer, they will introduce ten new European destinations from Arlanda and Landvetter outside Gothenburg.
The investment of 200 million dollars, approximately 2 billion kronor, will also generate around 60 new jobs, according to the company.
Investing in Denmark
The announcement comes after SAS recently announced a major investment at Copenhagen Airport Kastrup. Several of the destinations that Ryanair is now starting to operate are also those where they compete with SAS, such as Cagliari and Marseille, the difference being that with SAS, Swedish passengers must fly via Kastrup.
Eddie Wilson, CEO of the airline part of the Ryanair group, says they have a significant advantage over their competitor:
Compared to before the pandemic, SAS has only recovered to 70 percent and they have fewer aircraft seats. Ryanair, on the other hand, has grown by 160 percent. They don't have the extra aircraft we have, he claims.
Bromma not an alternative
Ryanair's Swedish establishment began in Skavsta, Nyköping. Then they moved to Arlanda, where they are also intended to stay. Bromma, which is virtually empty after competitor BRA's move, is not an alternative for international traffic since the runways are far too short for Ryanair's fleet.
However, Eddie Wilson sees an opportunity for expansion in Sweden when it comes to domestic routes:
Visby is an alternative, as is northern Sweden, such as Luleå, but we have to start somewhere and this is an investment ahead of the summer season, he says.
The following destinations will Ryanair start flying to from Sweden:
Arlanda:
Cagliari, Marseille, Sarajevo, Trieste, Zakynthos
Landvetter:
Corfu, Dubrovnik, Milan, Pula, Thessaloniki.
