Economic development and long-term investments

Swedavia’s contribution to society’s economic development

Under the scope of the task assigned to us by the Swedish State and based on solid business principles, Swedavia shall work actively to develop the Swedish transport sector and help to achieve the transport policy objectives adopted by parliament. The overall objective of Swedish transport policy is to ensure the socioeconomically efficient, long-term sustainable provision of transport to citizens and businesses throughout the country. 

Swedavia contributes to access that creates jobs, tax revenue, business opportunities, meetings and diversity and makes transport available to all, regardless of people’s gender, age or functional capabilities.

The different companies and organisations at the airports must be able to handle the major changes taking place in the world, including in the form of new kinds of travellers and new business opportunities but also in the form of demand for capacity and growing climate challenges. As an airport operator, Swedavia serves as an important driving force. In this role, Swedavia can create conditions that enable the different businesses operating at the airports and in the industry to use new knowledge and technology to reduce aviation’s climate impact and contribute to the realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Long-term investments

Swedavia develops airports for the air travel of the future and over the next ten years will carry out extensive investments to increase capacity and customer value. These investments are aimed at increasing both efficiency and capacity, which will give passengers smoother and more inspiring travel experiences. The goal is for Swedavia’s airports to be the most important meeting places in the Nordic region.

Solid, sustainable air transport infrastructure generates a number of positive effects and promotes growth and development both socially and environmentally. The development of the airports will also play a significant role in future national and global transport systems, which will link Sweden together with the rest of the world. Swedavia’s network of airports shall be a growth engine for all of Sweden and contribute to the development of both its urban and rural areas. All of Swedavia’s airports are therefore being developed to enhance or optimise infrastructure, promote digitisation and automation, and best create efficient flows for a good customer experience.

The role of the airport and its future needs

Long-term planning is crucial for a sustainable infrastructure. By taking a long-term perspective in its planning, the airport’s different operations can be located in a way that functions well both now and in the future. As a result, this minimises the need to move them, which is good from a sustainability perspective.

Examples of focus areas in the work with master plans are trends, technological developments and innovation, where there is focus on the need for change in airport functions with the advent of electric aircraft. Long-term planning also works to facilitate intermodality, the linking of different transport modes. Other issues reflect the need to develop Swedavia’s master plans in order to manage the effects of climate change. For example, if heavy rains become more common, it could lead to flooding both on airside and landside, which could jeopardise the continuity of airport operations.