The day after the announcement that SAS and BRA are launching a collaboration where BRA is moving its operations from Bromma, SAS is now making another move. From the summer of 2025, 15 new flight lines will be launched from Kastrup. Most of them are European destinations, but a direct line to Seattle on the American west coast will also be established.
We're envious of that, says David Stenergard, business policy expert at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.
In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that Kastrup is priority one for SAS when it comes to long-haul flights, while Arlanda and its Danish counterpart have developed in completely different directions. While SAS has removed more and more such flights from Arlanda, for example Hong Kong and Los Angeles, new ones, such as Seattle and earlier this year, Atlanta, have been launched from Copenhagen.
Strong concern
The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce has previously expressed strong concern about the development and its negative consequences for Swedish business.
This fall, for example, Japanese airline All Nippon Airways will establish a direct route from Tokyo to Arlanda, and there have been rumors for a long time about an actor wanting to launch flights to India and New Delhi. However, more is needed, according to the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.
We have long been demanding direct lines from Arlanda. We have almost as many global headquarters in Stockholm as the rest of the Nordic countries combined, and what is being demanded is global connectivity, says David Stenergard.
Arlanda has lost out over many years, primarily to Copenhagen but also Helsinki.
A solution
According to David Stenergard, there are now several factors that make it challenging to attract airlines to Stockholm, some of which can be solved. He refers to the challenges of having two airports, where Bromma has handled some of the domestic traffic, and the flight tax that is now being abolished from a political standpoint.
Now, there will be a consolidation to Arlanda, which I think is good. There are many positive things that are on the way forward now, he says.
Long-haul flights from Arlanda, which also include direct flights to destinations:
Bangkok (Thai Airways)
Beijing (Air China)
Dubai (Emirates, Norwegian)
Miami (SAS)
New York (SAS)
* During the summer half-year, United and Delta have also had flights to New York. Additionally, SAS and Air Canada have had direct flights to Toronto, and for Air Canada's part, also Montreal.
