Total passenger numbers at LFV Airports in Sweden fell by -10% to 27.1m in 2009, with international passengers down by 10% to 15.8m and domestic passenger numbers off by -11% to 11.3m.

In a statement today LFV's Director General, Lars Rekke said: ‘Global economic prospects and air travel dropped like a stone in the beginning of the year. After summer air traffic stabilised and during the two last months of the year passenger volumes exceeded those of the previous year.

‘The most serious aspect of the drop in passenger numbers is that the passenger base for direct routes diminish. The geographical location on the periphery of Europe means Sweden is very dependent on good communications to be able to compete internationally.’

Among the LFV Airports, only Stockholm-Bromma saw an increase in passengers during 2009, with 6% to 2m passengers. Stockholm-Arlanda dropped by -11% to 16.1m and G?teborg-Landvetter by -14% to 3.7m.

LFV says that the increase at Stockholm-Bromma clearly shows the strength of the airport regarding quick and efficient domestic transport. Airports located a long distance from Stockholm have also had a respectable development which is in line with a long-term trend in domestic travel, says Lars Rekke.

The number of scheduled and charter landings in 2009 was -9% less than in 2008. International landings were down -12%, whilst domestic was down -6%.

During December 2009, 2m people flew from LFV Airports, representing an increase of one per cent compared with the same month in 2008. Passengers on domestic flights numbered 0.9m – an increase of 3% – whilst international flights decreased by one percent to 1.1m. The number of scheduled and charter landings in December was -2% less than in December 2008.

In summary, LFV said that the outlook for 2010 is mixed. ‘The global economic prospects have improved compared with a year ago and should mean recovery also for the aviation industry, but I do not think a significant increase during 2010 is to be expected,’ said Lars Rekke.