Swedavia’s Annual and Sustainability Report for 2022 is available as of today on the company’s website. The year 2022 was characterised by a robust recovery in the aviation market, despite economic and security policy uncertainty around the world. Travel at Swedavia’s airports increased, and Swedish connectivity improved significantly as a growing number of new routes were established.
Today Swedavia published its Year-End Report for 2022. Due to the strong recovery in the aviation market and a number of important airline investments, the company reported a near doubling of revenue and a sharp improvement in profit for the full year, with positive cash flow from operating activities for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Travel at Swedavia’s airports continued to increase sharply during the third quarter of the year, driven by the post-pandemic recovery in travel and airline investments at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. The increase in travel had a positive impact on Swedavia’s results, with increased net revenue and positive operating income for the second straight quarter.
The recovery in air travel continued during the first quarter of 2022. Four million passengers flew to or from Swedavia’s airports during the first three months of the year, which is four times more than during the same period last year. This led to a doubling of net revenue and significantly better underlying operating income.
In February, 1.2 million passengers flew via Swedavia’s ten airports, a decrease of 58 per cent compared to February of 2019, which was a normal year. Compared to February 2021, which was also strongly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, travel increased 335 per cent.
Swedavia has reported significantly better results for the fourth quarter of 2021, thanks to increased air travel mainly at the end of the year and continued good cost control. However, overall 2021 was dominated by the effects of the Covid pandemic, and Swedavia has reported a 1.4 billion kronor pre-tax loss for the full year.
In January, more than 1.1 million passengers flew via Swedavia’s ten airports, a decrease of 61 per cent compared to January 2019. As expected, the recovery in air travel slowed in January compared to previous months due to the pandemic and seasonally weaker travel during the month. Compared to January 2021, which was also greatly affected by the pandemic, passenger volume increased 224 per cent.
Swedavia has successfully issued SEK 2.5 billion in subordinated hybrid bonds with a perpetual maturity and first redemption option after 5 years. The purpose of the hybrid issue is to continue to create the best possible financial flexibility in the implementation of Swedavia's strategy and mission while maintaining the goals for Swedavia's capital structure.
Swedavia AB (publ) is assessing market conditions for issuing new Swedish kronor-denominated hybrid capital. The aim of the transaction is to provide the best possible financial flexibility in the execution of Swedavia’s strategy and mission, whilst securing Swedavia’s capital structure objectives.
During the third quarter, traffic at Swedavia’s airports increased as countries have opened up and travel restrictions have been eased. Net revenue totalled 793 million Swedish kronor, more than 70 per cent higher compared to a year ago, and cash flow from operating activities, excluding State aid, was positive for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Just before the end of last year, Swedavia became one of the first airport operators in the world to have the operations it runs under its own management at its ten airports be fossil-free. The company notes this milestone in its Annual and Sustainability Report 2020. Swedavia is now extending that work to supporting other companies and organisations at its airports in transforming their operation
Swedavia and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) have signed a SEK 500 million loan agreement. The seven-year SEK 500 million (approximately EUR 49 million) loan agreement is a Covid-19 response loan aimed at facilitating financing for industries heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Swedavia owns, operates and develops Sweden’s national basic infrastructure of ten airports and is wholly owned by the Swedish State. During the spring, commercial air travel came to an almost complete standstill as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In a short time, Swedavia has lost 98 per cent of its traffic and thus around 500 million kronor in revenue a month.
In April, 63,000 passengers flew via Swedavia’s ten airports, a full 98 per cent decrease compared to April last year, when Swedavia had more than 3.2 million passengers. The full impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic was evident during the month, and a number of the airports had no scheduled service. Traffic is expected to remain at very low levels in the near future.
Swedavia is one of the first airport operators in the world to issue a green bond loan to fund projects and investments in climate change adaptation and sustainability.
Swedavia has successfully issued SEK 1 bn of subordinated perpetual capital securities with a first call date on 26 November 2024. The capital securities have a floating interest rate up until the first call date of 3 month STIBOR + 150 bps.
Swedavia has appointed financial advisors to investigate market conditions for issuing of hybrid bonds and of green bonds under the recently launched Swedavia Green Bond Framework.