Swedish airport operator Swedavia has announced it is to increase the charges for airlines and ground handlers by 7.8 per cent from 1 January 2019 to meet large-scale capacity investments to meet the long-term demand for air travel.
The charges decision also includes a one-time adjustment increasing Swedavia’s charges temporarily by an additional 2.1 per cent between 1 January and 31 December 2019.
Airports included in the changes are Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, Gothenburg Landvetter Airport and Malmo Airport.
Swedavia said in accordance with the charges decision it will include increased and adjusted emission charge at all Swedavia’s airports, new levels for the take-off charge at four airports, new levels for the passenger charge at all airports, a new price list for charges outside of official operating hours at six airports a new levels for PRM- and ground handling infrastructure charges at all airports.
The operator added: “Charges not specifically mentioned will remain unadjusted at today’s levels. Swedavia has distributed the charges increase in order to create incentives for efficient and sustainable use of capacity.
“The majority of the increase is therefore allocated to the aircraft related take-off- and emission charges, which are levied per starting tonne and kilo NOx emitted during a landing and take-off cycle respectively, thus encouraging higher seat load factors and less emitting types of aircraft.”
The charges increase is motivated by Swedavia’s investments in increased capacity to meet long term travel demand. Swedavia said it has decreased the airport charges the last four years while simultaneously doubling the investment pace.
The operator said charges will “continue to be competitive” even after the increase and are estimated to be on average about 20 per cent lower than at comparable European airports.
Swedavia’s charges decision is applicable as of 1 January 2019. The one-time adjustment resulting in a total charges increase of 9.9 per cent is valid between 1 January and 31 December 2019.
The passenger charge will thereafter be decreased by 2.5 SEK for all departing passengers, provided that nothing else has been decided by then. The updated price list will be published on swedavia.com no later than 1 January 2019.
