Stockholm Arlanda Airport has quietly climbed the European aviation league tables in recent years, and its latest recognition as number 19 among the top 50 airports in Europe underscores that momentum. The ranking highlights how Sweden’s main international gateway is transforming from a workhorse airport into a polished, competitive hub that connects Scandinavia with the rest of the world. From rapid passenger growth and new long-haul services to a major terminal consolidation and ambitious expansion plans, Arlanda is emerging as a key Nordic aviation hub at a time when the region is vying for global relevance.
How Arlanda Landed in Europe’s Top 20
Arlanda’s top 20 European position is rooted in a mix of operational reliability, improved passenger experience and a steadily expanding network. Passenger surveys in international rankings, notably the Skytrax World Airport Awards, have increasingly rewarded airports that combine efficient processing with a strong commercial offer and clear wayfinding. Arlanda’s upgrades in security, its new commercial marketplace in Terminal 5 and an improving record on punctuality and capacity have all contributed to a better perception among travelers.
The airport also benefits from Sweden’s relatively strong rebound in international air travel. While domestic demand has fluctuated, the appetite for international journeys through Arlanda has grown, especially since 2023. That growth has encouraged airlines to add capacity and open new routes, which in turn strengthens the airport’s standing in league tables that look not just at quality but also at connectivity and choice. Arlanda’s presence in the European top 20 reflects this virtuous circle of demand, investment and improved service.
Importantly, Arlanda’s ranking comes in a fiercely competitive European landscape. Major hubs in Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Istanbul dominate intercontinental traffic, while regional champions such as Zurich, Munich, Vienna, Copenhagen and Helsinki compete hard for transfer passengers in northern Europe. For Arlanda to enter the top 20 suggests that it is now being seen in the same conversation as these better-known hubs, particularly in the Nordic and Baltic markets where geography and infrastructure can decisively shape travel flows.
Passenger Growth and Network Expansion Strengthen the Hub
The numerical story behind Arlanda’s rising profile is compelling. Swedavia, the state-owned operator of Sweden’s airports, handled more than 32 million passengers across its ten airports in 2024, roughly 81 percent of pre pandemic levels. Arlanda accounts for the lion’s share of that traffic and has recorded consistent gains in international passengers, even as domestic travel has been slower to recover. In 2024, Arlanda’s international traffic rose by around 7 percent, helping total volumes edge higher despite a decline in domestic flows.
Route development has been central to this growth. Over 40 new routes were launched across Swedavia’s airports in 2024, with Arlanda capturing the majority. The airport added 24 new routes, including 18 brand new destinations across the network, and welcomed additional capacity from airlines that see Stockholm as a promising gateway for both business and leisure travelers. Carriers such as Norwegian have been especially active in using Arlanda as a base for new services, while other airlines have tested and expanded seasonal or year round operations.
Long haul connectivity, often the yardstick by which hubs are judged, has also improved. Notable additions include the launch of a direct service between Stockholm and Tokyo by a major Japanese carrier and an Arlanda Dubai link operated by a leading low cost airline. These routes not only provide non stop access to key global markets but also feed connecting traffic via partner hubs in Asia and the Middle East. For travelers originating in Sweden, Finland, Norway and the Baltic states, Arlanda is increasingly an attractive alternative to routing through Copenhagen or continental European hubs.
Terminal 5 Consolidation and the New Arlanda Experience
Behind the scenes, Arlanda has undergone a substantial physical and operational transformation designed to make the airport more efficient and intuitive. One of the most significant steps has been the concentration of passenger operations around Terminal 5. In recent years, a modernized security checkpoint has opened there, using advanced scanners and a reengineered flow to reduce bottlenecks. Swedavia has reported average wait times for security in the new facility of just a few minutes, a marked improvement on earlier years when queues were a frequent complaint.
The reconfiguration of terminal space culminates this year and next in the closure of Terminal 4 and the migration of all traffic into an enlarged and upgraded Terminal 5 complex. The goal is a single roof concept where domestic and international departures share one cohesive building, simplifying transfers and reducing walking distances. Ground transport has been adjusted to follow this logic, with buses from central Stockholm once again stopping directly at Terminal 5, eliminating a change of level or long indoor walk that previously frustrated many passengers.
Complementing these changes is the progressive opening of a large new marketplace behind security in Terminal 5. The commercial area brings together retail, food and beverage and service outlets in a bright, open plan environment that aims to feel less like a corridor and more like a town square. For an airport competing on passenger satisfaction surveys, these details matter. Every new shopfront and seating area is part of a strategy to shift the image of Arlanda from spartan and functional to warm and welcoming, encouraging passengers to arrive earlier and enjoy their dwell time rather than rushing through.
Why Arlanda Matters in the Nordic Aviation Map
Arlanda’s ascent to a top 20 European ranking has a regional dimension that goes beyond Sweden’s borders. For decades, Copenhagen Kastrup has been the dominant hub in Scandinavia, leveraging its location and the network strategy of flag carrier SAS to attract connecting traffic between the Nordics and Europe, North America and Asia. Helsinki has carved out a strong niche to and from Asia, while Oslo has developed as a powerful point to point market driven by Norway’s oil wealth and dispersed population.
In this context, Arlanda’s growing role is significant. Sweden has the largest population and economy in the Nordic region, yet for many years Stockholm lacked the scale and breadth of long haul services that would be expected of a capital of its size. That gap pushed Swedish travelers to connect through Copenhagen or other hubs. As new intercontinental routes are added and more short haul feeder services are concentrated at Arlanda, the airport is increasingly positioned as a genuine competitor for both origin and destination traffic and for transfer passengers, particularly those from northern Sweden and parts of Finland and the Baltics.
The ongoing consolidation of domestic flights at Arlanda, including the migration of traffic from Stockholm’s secondary airport at Bromma, reinforces this centralizing effect. With more domestic routes feeding into the main international hub, passengers from regional cities in Sweden now have improved same day connectivity to global destinations without changing airports. This integration, combined with investments in rail and road links from downtown Stockholm, has strengthened Arlanda’s status as the country’s primary gateway and a Nordic hub in its own right.
Balancing Growth with Sustainability and Public Debate
Arlanda’s rise is taking place against a backdrop of intense public debate in Sweden over aviation’s environmental impact and the future of the country’s airport infrastructure. Domestic flying has been under particular scrutiny, and political discussions over the fate of Bromma Airport and the optimal use of land near central Stockholm have been highly charged. At the same time, Swedavia faces the challenge of restoring traffic to pre pandemic levels while aligning with Sweden’s ambitious climate targets.
For Arlanda, this means growth must be carefully managed and tied to a credible sustainability strategy. The airport and its airline partners are gradually increasing the use and availability of sustainable aviation fuel, supporting operational measures that reduce taxi and holding times, and working on improved public transport access to reduce the share of journeys made by private car. Electrification of ground vehicles, energy efficient terminal design and climate smart construction methods are woven into the airport’s long term redevelopment plans.
The consolidation of flights at Arlanda is partly justified as a way to streamline operations and make better use of existing infrastructure rather than building and operating multiple airports around Stockholm with overlapping catchment areas. By concentrating investment and traffic at one main hub, Swedavia argues that it can deliver higher quality services and stronger international connectivity with a more efficient carbon footprint per passenger. Whether this trade off convinces all critics is an open question, but it is central to how Arlanda’s evolution is being framed in the national conversation.
Challenges on the Road to Becoming a Premier Hub
Despite Arlanda’s progress and its favorable European ranking, the airport still lags behind some competitors on critical metrics. Copenhagen, for instance, handled around 30 million passengers in 2024, significantly more than Arlanda’s approximately 23 million. The Danish hub also boasts a more extensive network of intercontinental routes, particularly to North America and Asia, which boosts its pull for transfer traffic and long haul business travelers.
Passenger feedback has also drawn attention to areas where Arlanda must improve further. Complaints about high prices in restaurants and shops, limited late night food options and occasional bottlenecks in baggage handling have featured in Swedish media and on traveler forums. While the new marketplace and terminal consolidation are intended to address some of these concerns, rebuilding an airport’s reputation can lag behind the physical improvements, and some passengers’ impressions are still colored by experiences from the early post pandemic years when queues and staffing shortages were prominent.
Another challenge relates to airline strategy and alliances. For a hub to truly thrive, it usually needs a strong home carrier with a dense network of feeders and long haul services. SAS, historically the backbone of Scandinavian connectivity, has adjusted its operations in recent years and continues to balance activity across its bases. Low cost carriers, while driving growth and competition at Arlanda, do not always support the same kind of tightly timed wave structures that make traditional hubs so effective for transfers. Arlanda’s managers therefore need to craft an ecosystem that works for both network carriers and point to point operators.
Looking Ahead: Expansion, New Piers and a Refined Vision
Arlanda’s operator has set out a clear roadmap for the coming decade that reinforces the airport’s emerging role as a Nordic hub. Central to that plan is the construction of a new pier, often referred to as the G pier, which will add around 14 additional gates for larger aircraft. The project is scheduled to begin later in the decade and is conceived to give Arlanda more flexibility in handling widebody flights, code share operations and busy peaks of European short haul traffic.
In the nearer term, 2025 will see the final stages of the Terminal 5 marketplace completed, more airlines relocated into the consolidated terminal footprint and further fine tuning of passenger flows from curb to gate. Upgrades to lounges, security lanes, border control and baggage systems are being phased in to reduce friction at major pinch points. Ground access is another priority, with debates ongoing about enhancing rail capacity, adjusting fares on the dedicated airport express train and improving road connections to make journeys more predictable, especially at peak commuting times.
If these projects succeed, Arlanda’s European ranking could rise further in the years ahead. A more coherent terminal layout, additional long haul destinations and sustained gains in passenger satisfaction would strengthen the airport’s case as a natural first choice hub for travelers in Sweden and its neighboring countries. While competition from Copenhagen, Helsinki and other northern European airports will remain fierce, Arlanda’s recent performance suggests that the era when Stockholm was an aviation afterthought in the Nordic region is ending.
What the Ranking Means for Travelers and for Sweden
For travelers, Arlanda’s recognition among Europe’s top 50 airports, and its position at number 19, translates into tangible benefits. Shorter queues at security, clearer signage, fresher dining and retail options and a growing range of nonstop destinations make itineraries smoother and more predictable. Business travelers in particular benefit from improved punctuality and expanded long haul routes, which can cut hours off journeys that previously required backtracking through other hubs.
For Sweden, the stakes are broader. A strong international airport is a critical piece of national infrastructure that supports trade, tourism, investment and cultural exchange. As Arlanda strengthens its role, Swedish regions gain better access to global markets, companies find it easier to attract international talent and visitors, and the country’s capital becomes more competitive as a venue for conferences and major events. The ranking is therefore not only a badge of honor in the aviation world but also an indicator of Sweden’s connectivity and openness.
Arlanda’s journey is far from complete. The airport must keep improving service standards, manage environmental responsibilities and convince travelers that it can match or exceed the experience offered at established European hubs. Yet the combination of solid passenger growth, route expansion, terminal modernization and strategic consolidation has already lifted Stockholm Arlanda into a new league. Its number 19 position among Europe’s top airports stands as a milestone in that transformation and a sign that Sweden’s main gateway is firmly on the map as a key Nordic aviation hub.