Stockholm Arlanda Airport
Main airport serving Stockholm, Sweden / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Stockholm Arlanda Airport (IATA: ARN, ICAO: ESSA) is an international airport located in the Sigtuna Municipality of Sweden, near the town of Märsta, 37 kilometres (23 mi) north[3] of Stockholm and nearly 40 kilometres (25 mi) south-east of Uppsala. The airport is located within Stockholm County and the province of Uppland. It is the largest airport in Sweden and the third-largest airport in the Nordic countries. The airport is the major gateway to international air travel for large parts of Sweden. Arlanda Airport was used by nearly 27 million passengers in 2017, with 21.2 million international passengers and 5.5 million domestic.[5] The facility covers an expanse of about 2,500 hectares (9.7 sq mi) of airport property.[6]
Stockholm Arlanda Airport Stockholm-Arlanda flygplats | |||||||||||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
Owner/Operator | Swedavia | ||||||||||||||||||
Serves | Metropolitan Stockholm | ||||||||||||||||||
Location | Sigtuna Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden | ||||||||||||||||||
Opened | 1 April 1962; 61 years ago (1962-04-01) | ||||||||||||||||||
Hub for | Scandinavian Airlines | ||||||||||||||||||
Focus city for | |||||||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 137 ft / 42 m | ||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 59°39′07″N 017°55′07″E | ||||||||||||||||||
Website | www | ||||||||||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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Statistics (2022) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Stockholm Arlanda Airport is the larger of Stockholm's two airports. The other, Stockholm–Bromma, is located north-west of the city's centre but can be used only by smaller aircraft. The smaller airports Stockholm-Skavsta and Stockholm-Västerås are both located around 100 kilometres (60 mi) away from the Swedish capital. Stockholm Arlanda serves as a major hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle.
The airport was first used in 1959 but only for practice flights. It opened for limited civil traffic in 1960, and in 1962 the official opening ceremony took place. It was used from the start for intercontinental traffic because the runway at Bromma was too short. Scandinavian Airlines started using Douglas DC-8s on North American routes. The airport was also used very early by Pan American World Airways. The name Arlanda was decided after a competition prior to the airport opening.[citation needed] It is derived from Arland, an old name for the parish Ärlinghundra (now Husby-Ärlinghundra in Märsta) where the airport is situated. The '-a' was added in analogy with other Swedish place names ending with -landa and also plays on the Swedish verb "landa", which means "to land". The 1960s and 1970s saw increases in traffic with scheduled traffic and charter traffic. The Boeing 747 jumbojet started to be used in the 1970s, both on one-stop scheduled flights to New York and on weekend nonstop charters to the Canary Islands. Domestic flights to Gothenburg, Malmö, Luleå and Kiruna were operated by SAS DC-9s from Arlanda since they were considered too noisy to be used at downtown Bromma.[citation needed] The rest of domestic traffic operated out of Bromma, and all international traffic operated out of Arlanda.
In 1983, the domestic traffic operated by Linjeflyg moved from Bromma to Arlanda, using the terminal now known as Terminal 4. In 1990, two new domestic terminals called "Domestic 2 and 3" were built south of the first domestic terminal. In 1992, the terminal 2 was partly abandoned because of traffic decrease. It started to be used for international traffic the year after, and the main domestic and international terminals were renumbered into 4 and 5. The third runway was built between 1998 and 2002; however, a recession in 2002 delayed its opening until 2003. At that time, protests were raised by people living under its flight path in the municipality of Upplands Väsby. Traffic has recovered since and is now showing healthy increases, but the third runway is only used during peak hours for environmental reasons. In September 2010, the first Airbus A380 superjumbo landed at the airport.[7]
In early 2014, Swedavia announced plans for further expansions of the airport terminal complex, including the construction of an additional pier for Terminal 5 in order to better accommodate larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 and address forecasts of rising passenger numbers.[8] The plans were approved by the Environmental Court of Appeals in December 2014, and construction was scheduled to commence in the spring of 2015.[9]
In the spring of 2020, most flights were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] SAS decided to fly only four domestic departures and four domestic arrivals from Arlanda, plus some international flights, after April 6, 2020[11] while Norwegian cancelled all flights from Arlanda except to Oslo.[12] Terminal 2, 3 and 4 closed and terminal 5 handled all passengers during this period (March 2020 – October 2021)[13][14][15] The passenger figures were 97.7% lower in April 2020 than in April 2019.[14][10] The figured picked up later, but in early 2021 were still more than 80% less per month than 2019.[16]
In the spring of 2022, passenger figures rose again to more normal levels. This caused capacity problems, especially in the security check, because most of its staff were fired due to the pandemic recession. Additionally followed with the time to find and get security approval for and educate new staff. Terminal 4 could not open because transfer between it and Terminal 5 required a security check, and the security check was congested already, so Terminal 5 became congested.[17] Swedavia built a new pedestrian tunnel between the two terminals, bypassing the security check area. It opened together with Terminal 4 at the end of June 2022.[18]
Runways
Arlanda has three runways: Runway 1 (01L/19R), Runway 2 (08/26) and Runway 3 (01R/19L). Runway 1 is 3,301 m (10,830 ft)[19] long and can handle take-offs and landings of the heaviest aircraft in use today. Runways 2 and 3 are 2,500 m (8,202 ft) long.[19] As indicated, runways 1 and 3 are parallel runways that can be operated independently of one another. Runways 1 and 3 are equipped with CAT III systems for instrument landings.[19] The airport can handle simultaneous take offs and landings using runways 1 and 3 at the same time. Simultaneous aircraft takeoffs and landings can be performed in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Runway 3 (01R/19L) is reached from the main terminal area via taxiway bridges constructed to be able to handle the heaviest and largest aircraft in traffic, although its length practically limits this. Since runway 3 (01R/19L) is located at a distance from the terminals, a deicing area is placed close to the runway to avoid long waits between deicing and take off in winter conditions. Another deicing area is located in connection with the southern ramp area close to the take off positions at runway 01L. There are high speed taxiway exits from all runways, except runway 08, to enable aircraft to exit the runways quickly after landing. That increases runway capacity during rush hours. Use of parallel taxiways around the terminal area separates arriving and departing traffic. Arlanda can handle all aircraft types in service including the Airbus A380.
Terminals
The airport has four terminals. As of 2022, three terminals are in use, and there is no real separation of domestic and international flights anymore. From 1992 to 2019, terminals 2 and 5 were used for international flights, and 3 and 4 for domestic flights. There has been a modification of usage due to the COVID-19 pandemic when only terminal 5 was used, and during the capacity build up of 2022, which is still not settled and is subject to change.
The central building, Arlanda North, opened in late 2003, connecting terminal 5 with the newly built Pier F. Between terminals 4 and 5 is a shopping and restaurant area with a railway station below, called "Sky City", which is outside the security check area on the landside to cater to the needs of passengers and visitors to the airport. In 2022 terminals 4 and 5 were connected on the airside after the security check area, making them more connected to each other.
There are hotels at the airport in connection with the terminals (only outside the security check and passport check area) and in its surroundings. There are also conference facilities at the airport.
Terminal 2 – International (Arlanda South)
- Terminal 2 (gates 61–72) was initially built in 1990 for use by SAS as a domestic terminal. The terminal was designed to enable short turnaround times for aircraft, increased efficiency, and short walking distances, then without security checks and with most passengers having only hand luggage and the ability to show up 10 minutes before departure. It had double walk bridges designed for both doors of MD-80. However, SAS decided to leave the terminal because of decreases in passenger traffic on domestic routes. For a while the terminal was used by other airlines including Transwede Airways for both domestic and international services, but the terminal is now used only for international flights. Security checks, a larger luggage claim area, more shops and restaurants have had to be added over the years, making the terminal fairly small. However, in 2013 it was extended with a new floor level, which now has restaurants and a lounge. Terminal 2 has 8 aircraft parking stands with passenger bridges. Terminal 2 has an express station for high-speed trains, Arlanda South Station, shared with terminal 4, but using its own escalator.
- As of 29 May 2012, Norwegian relocated its international flights from Terminal 2 to Terminal 5 ousting Air France and Czech Airlines to Terminal 2.
- In April 2013, British Airways and Finnair relocated to the newly renovated Terminal 2.[20]
- Terminal 2 was closed due to COVID-19 between March 2020–October 2021. After reopening, Air France, Czech, Easyjet, KLM, Transavia and Vueling use it.[15]
- There are buses between terminal 2 and terminal 5 without need for further security check.
Terminal 3 – Regional domestic (Arlanda South)
- Terminal 3 (gates 51–59) was built in 1990 for regional aircraft. There is a café there. People walk outdoors from the gates and board the planes with airstairs. Access is through terminal 2, with a 200 m walking distance. As with terminal 2, it was built without security checks, which were added after 2001. There has been a decline in passenger numbers for smaller connections in Sweden.
- Terminal 3 closed down in early 2020 due to COVID and is not used as of July 2022.
Terminal 4 – Domestic and International
- Terminal 4, formerly Inrikes 1 (gates C30–C44) was originally designed for the Swedish domestic carrier Linjeflyg, and initiated in 1983. Linjeflyg and Scandinavian Airlines moved all operations from Stockholm–Bromma Airport to the new terminal at Arlanda in 1984. That was made to assemble the domestic and international departures between Scandinavian Airlines and Linjeflyg. Because of increasing popularity, the terminal soon got too small. For that reason, Inrikes 2 was set up for SAS, who moved all domestic flights from Inrikes 1 to the new terminal in 1990.
- Because of a recession in Swedish economy SAS moved back in 1992 and again the two carriers shared the terminal. Also in 1992 the terminal got a new name, Terminal 4. Since 1999, the terminal has had an express station for high-speed trains, Arlanda South Station, connecting the terminal with Stockholm Central Station and Terminal 5. In 2006, the terminal underwent a major renovation, the first since it was built in 1983.
- The terminal was closed in spring 2020 due to COVID-19 and reopened in June 2022 as a terminal used mainly by Ryanair. During the closure, the construction of the already planned airside walkway connection to terminal 5 took place, connecting terminal 4 with terminal 5 for smooth transfers between the two terminals. There is no passport check in terminal 4, so non-Schengen Ryanair flights to cities such as London actually use terminal 5. All Ryanair check-ins are in terminal 4 in any case. Also, there is no customs control in terminal 4, so all arriving passengers will have to walk 500 meters to terminal 5, also domestic since the customs has to see evidence that passengers travel domestic and don't need to pass customs control.
Terminal 5 – Domestic and International (Arlanda North)
- Terminal 5 (gates 1–24 & F26–F69) is the largest of the passenger terminals at the airport. From 2020, terminal 5 has both domestic and international flights. The terminal has three piers equipped with 31 aircraft parking stands with passenger bridges. There are also a number of remote aircraft parking positions serving the terminal. Terminal 5 has restaurants, bars and shopping areas. The first stage of the terminal was inaugurated in 1976. Terminal 5 has since been expanded with a new passenger pier F - this is after passport control for non-Schengen flights. By 2040, terminal 5 will be expanded with another pier, pier G, which will help the airport accommodate 40 million passengers compared with the 25 million of 2019. The new pier will be designed to handle bigger aircraft models such as the Airbus A380.[21][22] In addition to the scheduled services listed, all charter flights are handled at Terminal 5. The terminal is (like terminal 4 and Sky City) connected to Stockholm Central station by high-speed trains.
- Due to the COVID-19 outbreak all traffic, including domestic, moved to Terminal 5. After the other terminals (2 and 4) reopened, as of July 2022, all traffic of SAS and many other airlines remain in terminal 5, although some can be relocated to terminal 4 which has been interconnected to it with a walkway since 2022.
Cargo facilities
Stockholm Arlanda has extensive cargo flight activity. There is a cargo area with cargo terminals and cargo transit facilities in the southern part of the airport area. The cargo area is labeled "Cargo City" with warehouses operated by Cargo Center,[23] DHL, Swedish postal service (Posten) and Spirit Air Cargo.[24] A large part of mail and express parcels from Sweden is handled through the facilities at the airport.[25] SAS Cargo has its cargo operation east of the passenger terminals close to the SAS hangars.[26]
Dedicated scheduled cargo flights are operated by Korean Air Cargo with Boeing 747 cargo aircraft, as well as Lufthansa Cargo and Turkish Airlines. DHL, FedEx and UPS operate express freight services at the airport. West Air Sweden and Amapola operate shorter cargo sectors. A number of airlines operate ad hoc cargo flights with various equipment. Outsize cargo is frequently hauled with the Antonov An-124 and similar cargo planes. TNT had their operations at Arlanda but have since moved to Västerås Airport.
Other facilities
Swedavia, the Swedish airport management company, has its head office in the airport control tower facility.[27][28] The company Sollentuna Cabin Interiors has its head office in Hangar 4 at Arlanda.[29]
Oxford Aviation Academy has a flight simulator centre for some of the most common airliners of today (like Boeing 737) at Arlanda. Arlanda has hangars and aircraft maintenance facilities operated by SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Priority Aero Maintenance.[30] TUI fly Nordic based at the airport also has a large hangar for widebody jets. There is also a helicopter repair facility operated by Patria Helicopters.[31] A decommissioned Boeing 747 jumbo jet renovated into a hostel, the Jumbo Stay (formerly Jumbo Hostel), is located at the entrance to Arlanda Airport. There are four additional hotels at the airport (Clarion Hotel Arlanda Airport, Radisson Blu Arlandia Hotel, Radisson Blu SkyCity Hotel and Rest and Fly); in addition there are several hotels nearby with transfer buses.[32]