Leadership interview with Swedavia’s president and CEO

Swedavia’s strategy to restore trust and drive sustainable growth. For Issue 1 2023 of International Airport Review Jonas Abrahamsson, president and CEO of Swedavia, discussed how the aviation industry will regain the trust of passengers since the disruptions last summer and the importance of the continuation in sustainable transformation in an increasing global world.

Following COVID-19 pandemic and difficulties in resuming staffing at the same speed as air traffic's rapid recovery, Swedavia as well as other European and global airport operators and aviation industry have had busy times. The industry is now in a stable position again, but regaining the trust of travelers and the public is a long-term effort.

“As an industry, we need to restore confidence, and we can only do that by working together. Airlines, ground handlers, and airport operators, we are all in it together to deliver a product that lives up to expectations when it comes to punctuality, smooth passenger flow, and a pleasant start to the travel experience”, Jonas Abrahamsson, Swedavia’s president and CEO, said.

“We are all now racing to regain not just the critical capabilities we were forced to let go of as a consequence of the health crisis, but the trust of passengers affected by the fallout. At Stockholm Arlanda Airport, we caught up from the second half of the summer thanks to considerable operational efforts and our terrific airport staff. We have since delivered a much better product, also at peak travel periods during this autumn and the past holiday season. Operations have run very smoothly and waiting times at the security control for example have been sharply reduced and are back to normal, typically below five to 10 minutes,” Jonas Abrahamsson continued.

Attracting and retaining new and existing employees is an essential part of succeeding in the airport operations today and tomorrow. Continuing Swedavia's efforts in piloting sustainable solutions and being a driver in the transformation to a sustainable future transportation mode is another key strategy, together with investing in improved connectivity and passenger experience.

Read more in International Airport Review, Issue 1 2023:
Swedavia’s strategy to restore trust and drive sustainable growth (internationalairportreview.com)