Bromma airport is the oldest airport in the Stockholm area and among the oldest commercial airports in Europe still in full use today. It opened in 1936, located just 8 km west of the city centre. But already in the 50’s Bromma airport was deemed too small, both in terms of capacity and due to its short runways, which would not be able to handle newer jet aircrafts. In the early 60’s the new Arlanda airport opened 40 km north of the city centre and became the international airport of Stockholm while Bromma continued to handle domestic traffic. In 1983 also the domestic traffic moved.
A decade later in 1992 the airport reopened as a commercial airport and has since been the city airport of Stockholm. But just like the case with many other city airports around the world Bromma has been the subject of frequent political discussions. Some political parties want to close it, highlighting the problems with noise and pollution over the densely populated areas and also that the area could be better used for apartment blocks and office buildings as their is a shortage of housing in the city. Other political parties want to keep it, highlighting the importance of good transportation links with the capital, after all the airport is more than 30 km closer to the city centre than Arlanda.
This has meant that no administration has really wanted to invest in the airport, while at the same time as the passenger numbers have grown considerably, creating a cramped experience in the old terminal.
A new transit hall
But finally some investments have been made. A few months ago a brand new arrivals hall and baggage reclaim area opened in a brand new building next to the old terminal building, and now a new departure and transit hall has opened, making use of the space previously used for the arrivals hall.
This week the new transit and gate area opened, which was celebrated with balloons in the terminal. And it was time to have a look before boarding the late evening flight with Finnair to Helsinki, just a few days after the opening.
The security control is still the same, just like the landside check-in area in the departure hall. But presumably there will be changes the future. The BRA Lounge is also the same, located landside. No information has been given whether they are planning to open a new lounge, this time in an airside location. But most likely this will not happen.
After the security control, the area that was previously used for the duty free shop is now completely empty. And the exit in the corner, that led to the old gate areas, is now blocked. This area will be renovated and will later become part of the departure experience again. Exactly what will be available in this room has not been revealed by the airport.
After the empty room passengers continue through the small door in the opposite corner, which takes you to the brand new duty free shop. It is considerably larger than the old one and offers a much larger selection of cosmetics, chocolates and even some electronics. However as Sweden has a monopoly on alcohol, and as there are no flights from the airport to any non-Schengen destinations, there is nothing in terms of alcoholic beverages.
Next to the duty free shop there are new restrooms, in an area much larger than before. The number of toilets in the old transit hall was insufficient and there were often queues.
After passing through the duty free shop passengers enter the new gate area, which has a brand new and rather modern design.
The new transit hall is located right next to the old transit hall. The old transit hall is now closed and will be fully renovated during the next few months. Eventually it will reopen and the wall between the two halls will be removed in order to create one large transit hall, double in size compared to before.
Another difference is that the gates no longer have numbers, but letters. The BRA flight to Malmö this evening departs from Gate J while the Finnair flight to Helsinki departs from Gate G. Gates F-M are located in the new transit hall which means that gates A-E will later be located in the old transit hall, when it reopens.
There is a new bar in the transit hall called ‘Deli Flight Bar’ serving light food, drinks and snacks. It is larger than the old one in the old transit hall but still inadequate for the number of passengers using the airport, especially at peak times. This evening there are no seats left. Presumably there will be more dining options when all the works are completed.
There is also a new Pressbyrån kiosk selling newspapers, magazines, snacks and drinks.
And so it was time for boarding to Helsinki at Gate G. There are now also electronic displays next to the apron positions displaying the flight number and destination, to make sure you board the right aircraft. Previously old-style metal plates were used.
Final impression
Definitely a great improvement and a much needed expansion of an airport which now serves 2.5 million passengers per year, but who until August were handled in the same area as the domestic passengers were in the 1970s, with hardly no expansion of the terminal area for over 40 years.
Very much looking forward to see the end result and the rest of the new passenger facilities to be introduced later. In a few years time there will also be a tram link to the airport which will make transportation to the airport easier.
After years of political debates finally something is happening at Stockholm Bromma airport, and it looks like this excellent and very convenient city airport is here to stay, hopefully several more years, now with much improved passenger facilities.
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