Under 2023, the total number of passengers at Swedish airports was 29.8 million. This is approximately 20 percent lower than the passenger number in 2019, according to the latest statistics from the Swedish Transport Agency.
Swedavia’s figures also show the same trend, with domestic and intercontinental travel experiencing the greatest decline. However, travel within Europe is essentially back to the same levels as in 2019.
There are several reasons why Swedes are flying less. One of them is that flight tickets have become more expensive, according to Jonas Åkerman, a transportation researcher at KTH.
– Household finances have also become more strained, so they have less money to spend, he says.
In the video above, Jonas Åkerman provides three additional explanations for why Swedes are flying less.
The increase may have stagnated
According to the Swedish Transport Agency’s passenger forecast, international air traffic, which accounts for almost 90 percent of air travel, is expected to reach 2019 levels as early as next year.
However, Jonas Åkerman suggests that there are indications that air travel may have stabilized at the lower level. In the second half of 2023, the increase that had been ongoing since the pandemic subsided. Instead, Swedish air travel decreased by a few percent.
– It’s a very short period, so it’s uncertain what conclusions can be drawn from it, but it’s interesting to see if it’s a permanent trend, he says.
Reduces emissions
A 20 percent reduction in Swedes’ air travel equates to a reduction of approximately 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per year, according to calculations by Jonas Åkerman and his colleagues.
This means that Swedish emissions from air travel have decreased from around 9 million tons of carbon dioxide before the pandemic to just over 7.5 million tons last year.
– It’s a significant decrease, even though it’s much less than what needs to be done to achieve climate goals, but it’s a step in the right direction, says Jonas Åkerman.
