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Stockholm Bromma Airport

Coordinates: 59°21′16″N 017°56′23″E / 59.35444°N 17.93972°E / 59.35444; 17.93972
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Stockholm Bromma Airport

Stockholm Bromma flygplats
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Stockholm (Landowner)
OperatorSwedavia
ServesStockholm metropolitan area
LocationBromma
Opened23 May 1936 (1936-05-23)
Hub forBraathens Regional Airlines
Elevation AMSL14 m / 47 ft
Coordinates59°21′16″N 017°56′23″E / 59.35444°N 17.93972°E / 59.35444; 17.93972
Websiteswedavia.com/bromma/
Map
BMA is located in Stockholm
BMA
BMA
Location in Stockholm
BMA is located in Sweden
BMA
BMA
BMA (Sweden)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12/30 1,668 5,472 Asphalt
Statistics (2018)
Passengers total2,501,589
International passengers309,010
Domestic passengers2,192,579
Landings total22,675 (2011)
Source: Swedish AIP at EUROCONTROL[1]
Statistics: Swedavia[2] Swedavia[3]

Stockholm Bromma Airport (IATA: BMA, ICAO: ESSB), officially known as Bromma Stockholm Airport, is an airport located in the Bromma district of Stockholm, Sweden.

Situated approximately 7 km[4] (4.3 mi) northwest of central Stockholm, Bromma Airport is the closest airport to the city compared to the other commercial airports serving the Stockholm Metropolitan Area (IATA airport code STO) including Arlanda, Skavsta, and Västerås.

Opened on 13 May 1936 by King Gustaf V, it was the first airport in Europe to be built with paved runways.[5] As of 2023, Bromma Airport was Sweden's fourth-busiest airport by passenger traffic,[6] primarily serving domestic routes while also accommodating some minor international flights. The airport is predominantly operated by Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA), which offers flights to various destinations across Sweden, including Gothenburg, Malmö, Umeå, and Visby. Other airlines such as Finnair also operate limited international services.[7]

Stockholm Bromma Airport is located on land owned by the City of Stockholm. The airport is operated by Swedavia, a state-owned company, under a lease agreement with the city which is set to last until 2038.[8]

History

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Early Proposals and Construction (1910s-1930s)

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The idea of an airport near Stockholm was first proposed in 1918 by Enoch Thulin, one of Sweden's leading aviation pioneers. Thulin suggested the establishment of an airport close to the capital city, as the existing airfield at Barkarby was considered too far from Stockholm.[9] At that time, commercial aviation in Stockholm operated from Lindarängen seaplane station.[10]

Elsewhere in Sweden, by 1923, airfields had been inaugurated at Bulltofta in Malmö and Torslanda in Gothenburg.[11] Stockholm City Council subsequently launched an investigation exploring locations for a new city airport, including Årstafältet and Skarpnäck. Eventually, Riksby, a rural location to the west of the city, was deemed suitable for the new airport.

Construction of the new airport at Riksby began in 1933. The site partially included old marshland from an ancient lakebed. This marshy ground continues to affect the runway today, creating a dip in the runway.[12] The airport was originally constructed with four intersecting runways measuring 2,024m, 1,411m 1,219m, and 969m in length.[13] Only one runway remains in use.

Beams from the old Traneberg Bridge were reused in the construction of Bromma's first hangar. Both the replacement Traneberg Bridge and Bromma Airport's buildings were designed by the same architect, Paul Hedqvist.[14]

Inauguration and World War Two (1930s-1940s)

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Stockholm Bromma Airport was officially opened on 23 May 1936 by King Gustaf V. The following summer nearly 100,000 people visited the airport. Notably, it was the first airport in Europe to feature paved runways from its inception. By 1937, KLM had begun landing its DC-3 aircraft at Bromma.[15]

During World War II, Swedish and British aircraft operated flights between Stockholm Bromma and the United Kingdom. These flights often carried Norwegian and Danish refugees, making the airport a target of interest for German spies. Consequently, two Swedish Douglas DC-3 aircraft, which had taken off from Bromma, were shot down by German forces during the war.[16][17]

Post-War (1940s-1960s)

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After the war, Stockholm Bromma Airport experienced growth, with two major airlines operating from the airport: Aktiebolaget Aerotransport (ABA), which later became the Swedish partner in Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), and Linjeflyg, the main domestic airline in Sweden that was eventually acquired by SAS.

Opening of Arlanda Airport (1960s-1980s)

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By the 1960s, Bromma's runway proved too short for the emerging jet age and intercontinental traffic, such as the DC-8. Additionally, the airport's capacity limitations became apparent. Originally built in a rural area, the airport found itself surrounded by an expanding city.

With the opening of Stockholm Arlanda Airport in 1962, all international traffic was transferred from Bromma Airport. In 1984, Linjeflyg and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) also relocated their domestic operations from Bromma to Arlanda.[18] Stockholm Bromma Airport then became primarily used for business jets, general aviation, flight schools, and government purposes. In 1984 several old hangars were repurposed as Bromma Blocks, a retail park.[19]In 1988, SAS moved its headquarters away from Bromma.

Deregulated Civil Aviation in Sweden (1990s-Present)

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Following the 1992 deregulation of civil aviation in Sweden, Malmö Aviation began service to Gothenburg, Malmö, and London City Airport. This marked a period of renewed activity for the airport. In 2002, a new control tower was put into use, and the terminal, which had deteriorated after years of neglect, was renovated. Further improvements in 2005 enabled the airport to separate passengers arriving from within and outside of the Schengen area.[20]

In 2003, the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration, announced a bidding process for a contract to build a general aviation terminal at the for FBO (fixed-base operator) customers. Grafair won the contract and completed the FBO on 11 November 2004. The Grafair Jet Center was voted the 3rd best international FBO in May 2008 by AIN - Aviation International News.[21]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, all flights at Stockholm Bromma Airport were suspended. Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA), the main at Bromma, suspended all flights from 6 April 2020.[22] BRA resumed limited operations in late 2020. On 16 May 2021, the Bromma Airport tram station was opened.[23]

In the summer of 2024, Swedavia conducted runway maintenance at Stockholm Bromma Airport. During this period, BRA relocated its operations to Terminal 3 at Stockholm Arlanda Airport.[24]

Future Plans

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Stockholm Bromma Airport is located on land owned by the City of Stockholm, but is operated by Swedavia under a lease agreement with the city. The lease was last renewed in 2011 when the centre-right majority in the Stockholm City Council voted to extend it until 2038.[25] Under the terms of the current lease, by this deadline, the airport must be decommissioned, and the surrounding land must have undergone environmental remediation to remove contamination.[26]

Constraints on Expansion

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Due to its location, Stockholm Bromma Airport's potential for expansion is limited by several factors, including noise regulations, spatial constraints, and the obligation to preserve the culturally significant airport buildings. When the airport was inaugurated in 1936, it was located in a largely rural area. However, as Stockholm has expanded, the airport is now surrounded by urban development.

The Airport is required to operate under strict restrictions to minimise impact on the surrounding area. Noise levels, calculated using must not exceed 55 and 65 dBA in designated areas and the airport is limited to 80,000 flight movements per year by its lease with the City of Stockholm. Average noise emissions must remain below 89 EPNdB, while scheduled flights face a stricter limit of 86 EPNdB. Flight operations are prohibited between 22:00 and 07:00 on weekdays and before 08:00 on weekends, except for emergency and governmental flights.[27]

Commercial Viability

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Stockholm Bromma Airport and Stockholm Arlanda Airport are both managed by government-owned airport operator Swedavia. While Bromma's close proximity to central Stockholm has been a significant advantage, the expansion of Arlanda, including the completion of the high-speed Arlanda Express rail link in 1999,[28] and addition of a third runway in 2003, has diminished Bromma Airport's competitive position.

On September 14, 2020, Swedavia submitted a report to Sweden's Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation regarding the operational viability of Stockholm Bromma Airport.[29] The report concluded that maintaining operations at both Bromma and Arlanda was no longer commercially justified.[30] Swedavia recommended consolidating air traffic at Arlanda, which it concluded could accommodate Bromma's capacity without requiring substantial infrastructure investments in the short term. It noted that long-term enhancements, including the potential construction of an additional runway at Arlanda, would still be necessary. The report indicated that Bromma was unlikely to remain operational beyond 2038.[31]

Political Debate

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The airport has been a subject of political debate for much of its history. Proponents argue that the airport is necessary to complement Stockholm Arlanda Airport and that it contributes to the region's air capacity and business activity; while Critics argue that the region requires only one airport, and advocate for the repurposing of the approximately 142 hectares of land occupied by Bromma for housing development.[32]

After the 2014 general election in which Red-Green Alliance gained control of both Stockholm City Council and the national government, plans emerged to close Bromma Airport to redevelop the area for housing.[33] On September 14, 2020, Swedavia submitted a report concluding that maintaining operations at Bromma was no longer commercially justified.[29] This finding bolstered the government's position, which in April 2021, announced renewed plans to proceed with the airport's closure,[34] aiming to free up space for residential projects. A subsequent government report released in October 2021 suggested a closure timeline between 2025 and 2027, with all air traffic being consolidated at Arlanda.[35][36]

However, after the 2022 general election, which was won by the right-wing Moderate-led bloc, the newly formed Kristersson cabinet announced that plans to close Bromma early would not proceed.[37][38] Instead, the government indicated its ambition that the airport could be developed to support electric-powered aircraft.[39][40]

In February 2024, Stockholm City Council's Social Democrat-led leadership confirmed it would not renew Bromma Airport's lease beyond 2038,[41][42][43] and declared its intent to terminate the agreement with Swedavia regarding Bromma, aiming to establish a new urban district called "Bromma Parkstad".[44] Christian Democratic Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson countered that the government would not accept an early termination of the agreement.[45] [46]

Airlines and destinations

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The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Stockholm-Bromma:[47]

AirlinesDestinations
Braathens Regional Airlines Aarhus,[48] Ängelholm, Gothenburg, Halmstad,[49] Helsinki,[50] Kalmar,[49] Kristianstad,[51] Malmö, Östersund,[49] Ronneby,[52] Sälen-Trysil,[53] Skellefteå,[54] Umeå, Växjö,[52] Visby
Finnair Helsinki[55]
Nyxair Trollhättan–Vänersborg[56][57][58]

Statistics

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Annual passenger traffic at BMA airport. See Wikidata query.
Busiest European routes to and from Stockholm Bromma Airport (2023)[59]
Rank Airport Passengers handled % change
2022/23
1 Sweden Malmö, Sweden 260,665 Increase 2.0
2 Sweden Visby, Sweden 190,010 Increase 5.5
3 Belgium Brussels, Belgium 145,333 Increase 2.3
4 Sweden Ängelholm, Sweden 123,274 Increase 12.0
5 Sweden Gothenburg, Sweden 110,998 Decrease 7.4
6 Sweden Umeå, Sweden 80,226 Decrease 3.8
7 Sweden Halmstad, Sweden 74,101 Increase 8.8
8 Sweden Ronneby, Sweden 53,721 Increase 5.6
9 Sweden Kalmar, Sweden 45,367 Increase 40.7
10 Sweden Kristianstad, Sweden 21,598 Increase 45.5
Traffic by calendar year[60]
Year Passenger volume Change over previous year State Domestic Change over previous year EU Change over previous year
2023 1 190 507 Increase06,4% 1 018 823 Increase0 171 600 Increase0
2022 1 119 102 Increase097,2% 968 211 Increase0 150 635 Increase0
2021 567 607 Increase018,3% 500 371 Increase0 67 110 Decrease0
2020 479 400 Decrease0-79,6% 405 226 Decrease0 74 055 Decrease0
2019 2 354 051 Decrease0-6,0% 1 994 215 Decrease0 359 528 Increase0
2018 2 503 382 Decrease0-1,1% 2 192 844 Decrease0 310 335 Increase0
2017 2 532 403 Increase01,1% 2 241 626 Increase0 290 777 Increase0
2016 2,503,961 Increase00.61% 2,222,599 Increase01.46% 281,362 Decrease05.68%
2015 2,488,779 2,190,463 298,316

Other facilities

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Stockholm Bromma Airport is home of two flight clubs (Stockholms Flygklubb and SAS Flygklubb), as well as a flight school (LidAir).[citation needed] The state aviation, which operates VIP flights for the ministers of the government, the royal family and other high ranked government officials, is based at Bromma Airport.[citation needed]

Ground transport

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Tram

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Tram stop at Bromma Airport

Tram services from Bromma Airport connect the airport to Alvik, where passengers can transfer to the Stockholm Metro. The tram stop at the airport is called Bromma flygplats, and the journey to Alvik takes approximately 9 minutes.

The tram line, known as the Tvärbanan (Line 31), was inaugurated in May 2021. Currently an extension of the Tvärbanan line is under construction, which will extend northward from to Rissne, Kista, and ultimately to Helenelund Station.[61]

Bus

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Flygbussarna Airport coaches travel directly between Stockholm Bromma Airport and the City Terminal (approx. 20 min travel time). [62]

Taxi

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Bromma Stockholm Airport features a taxi stand outside the terminals that exclusively serves 'ecotaxis' as part of its environmental initiatives. The airport is located approximately 7.4 kilometers from central Stockholm, with typical taxi rides taking around 20 minutes.[63]

Parking

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Bromma Airport offers parking managed by Swedavia. The main facilities include Express Outdoor Parking (P2) near the terminal and a Pick-up & Drop-off area limited to one-hour stays. The airport also provides designated parking for electric vehicles, motorcycles, and passengers with reduced mobility. Leased parking is available for frequent travellers. The parking areas are open 24 hours a day[64]

Accidents and incidents

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  • On 18 February 1951, a RAF Vickers Valetta with 22 passengers and crew on a military flight suffered a failure of the No. 2 engine and radio problems while near Stockholm/Bromma Airport. Smoke was also seen coming from beneath the floor of the rear of the cabin. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing at the airport, however due to poor alignment with the runway and poor weather caused the aircraft to overshoot the runway. The aircraft climbed very poorly due to effects of airframe icing and the pilot made a forced belly landing on a clearing on high ground. One person was killed and the aircraft totally destroyed.[citation needed]
  • On 15 January 1977, Linjeflyg Flight 618, tail number SE-FOZ, crashed at Kälvesta on approach to Stockholm/Bromma due to ice accretion on the tailplane, leading to a loss of control. All 22 people on board were killed.[65]

See also

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References

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ EAD Basic
  2. ^ "Statistics". Swedavia. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Passagerarstatistik" (PDF). Swedavia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2014.
  4. ^ "ESSB/Stockholm City/Bromma General Airport Information". acukwik.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  5. ^ Nyheter, S. V. T. (30 October 2020). "Se när kung Gustaf V inviger Bromma flygfält 1936". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Flygplatsstatistik - Transportstyrelsen". www.transportstyrelsen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Direct (non-stop) flights from Stockholm, Bromma (BMA) - FlightsFrom.…". archive.is. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Bromma flygplatsområde - Stockholms stad". vaxer.stockholm (in Swedish). 21 May 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Bromma flygplats 85 år". www.sffsto.se. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  10. ^ "AirHistory.net - Junkers G24 aircraft photos". www.airhistory.net. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Kronologi över svenska flygplatsers historia". Svenska regionala flygplatser (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Bromma flygplats 85 år". www.sffsto.se. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Stockholm Bromma Airport (flygplats) - Approach charts". konbriefing.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Paul Hedqvist – arkitektur som präglat Stockholms stadsbild". Hemnet (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Bromma flygplats 85 år". sffsto.se (in Swedish). 25 May 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  16. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-3-268 SE-BAF Hirsthals, Denmark [North Sea]". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  17. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-3-268 SE-BAG Hållö Island". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Historik". Svenska regionala flygplatser (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Historia". web.archive.org. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Bromma Beating The Odds". www.key.aero. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  21. ^ AIN FBO survey Archived 2010-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Flygbolaget BRA: Alla avgångar inställda
  23. ^ "Trafikstart för Tvärbanan till Bromma flygplats". Stockholms Läns Landsting (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  24. ^ "BRA ARN v.30-31". www.swedavia.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Bromma Airport hopes for lift off". Sveriges Radio. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  26. ^ News, Travel (14 February 2024). "Styret i Stockholm vill fimpa avtalet om Bromma flygplats". Travel News (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  27. ^ "Miljövillkor i Brommas miljötillstånd". www.swedavia.net. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  28. ^ "About A-Train". Arlanda express. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Swedavia submits requested impact assessment on possible early closure of Bromma Stockholm Airport to its owner". www.swedavia.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  30. ^ "Stockholm Bromma 'no longer commercially viable,' Swedavia says | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Stockholm Bromma 'no longer commercially viable,' Swedavia says | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  32. ^ "Bromma Airport hopes for lift off". Sveriges Radio. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  33. ^ Magnusson, Mattias (21 April 2021). "När kan bostäder byggas på Bromma?". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  34. ^ Nikel, David. "Sweden's Third Biggest Airport To Close". Forbes. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  35. ^ Sweden, Radio (31 August 2021). "Closure of Bromma airport possible in coming years, report says". Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  36. ^ Magnusson, Mattias (21 April 2021). "När kan bostäder byggas på Bromma?". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  37. ^ url= https://www.fastighetsnytt.se/samhallsbyggnad/politik/regeringen-bromma-flygplats-laggs-inte-ned/
  38. ^ url= https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/stockholm/bromma-flygplats-laggs-inte-ner-infrastrukturministern-ger-besked-under-eftermiddagen
  39. ^ "Regeringen: Bromma flygplats läggs inte ned". Fastighetsnytt (in Swedish).
  40. ^ "Bromma flygplats läggs inte ner - infrastrukturministern ger besked". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish).
  41. ^ Nyheter, S. V. T. (14 February 2024). "Stockholms stad säger upp avtalet med Bromma flygplats". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  42. ^ url=https://www.tn.se/naringsliv/35621/beskedet-bromma-avtal-skrotas-slutet-for-flygplatsen/
  43. ^ url= https://www.svd.se/a/bmkMXv/dagarna-ar-raknade-for-brommas-flygplats-skriver-kadir-kasirga-s
  44. ^ "Kommunens nya drag i fajten om Bromma flygplats". www.dagenssamhalle.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  45. ^ "Bromma flygplats ska läggas ner – ministerns svar". www.tv4.se (in Swedish). 15 February 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  46. ^ "Ministern slår tillbaka mot avvecklingsplaner: "Varit tydlig från dag ett"". TV4 (in Swedish).
  47. ^ Swedavia – Bromma Timetable retrieved 18 February 2018
  48. ^ "Fly Aarhus-Stockholm Bromma with BRA".
  49. ^ a b c "BRA börjar flyga på Bromma igen och öppnar nu bokningen för de 10 första flyglinjerna". Flygbolaget BRA Pressrum (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  50. ^ "BRA lanserar ny flyglinje från Helsingfors till Bromma". turismnytt (in Swedish). December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  51. ^ "BRA Adds Vaxjo – Kristianstad from late-August 2023".
  52. ^ a b "BRA återupptar sina linjer till Ronneby och Växjö". Flygbolaget BRA Pressrum (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  53. ^ "BRA flyger två linjer till Sälen i sommar". Flygbolaget BRA Pressrum (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  54. ^ "BRA flyger till Skellefteå i sommar från Stockholm och Göteborg". Flygbolaget BRA Pressrum (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  55. ^ "Finnair NW23 International Frequency Variations – 14MAY23". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  56. ^ "Klart för återstart av reguljärflyg mellan Trollhättan-Vänersborg och Bromma" [Ready for restart of regular air route between Trollhättan-Vänersborg and Bromma] (in Swedish). Trollhättan Vänersborg Airport. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  57. ^ "Återstart av flyglinje till Stockholm" [Restart of air route to Stockholm] (in Swedish). City of Trollhättan. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  58. ^ Västflyg - Flyg till och från Stockholm Bromma från Trollhättan Vänersborg
  59. ^ "Antal ankommande och avresande passagerare på Swedavias flygplatser, 2023" (XLSX). Swedavia.se. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  60. ^ "Flygplatsstatistik". Transportstyrelsen. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  61. ^ Nyheter, S. V. T. (16 May 2021). "Nya Tvärbanans första etapp klar – trafikerar Bromma flygplats". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  62. ^ "Flygbussarna återstartar linje till Bromma | Bussmagasinet" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  63. ^ "Taxis". www.swedavia.com. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  64. ^ "Parkering". www.swedavia.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  65. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
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