Our Review of Stockholm Arlanda Airport

Our Review of Stockholm Arlanda Airport

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Stockholm Arlanda Airport

PROs

Location: The strategic position of Stockholm Arlanda Airport, which serves travelers to the city and neighboring areas, is approximately 37 kilometers (23 miles) north of Stockholm’s city center. Transfers to and from the city are simple because of its excellent train, bus, and taxi connections.

Airlines Hub: Stockholm Airport is a hub for Scandinavian Airlines and a focus city for Norwegian Air Sweden, Novair, Finnair, Ryanair and Eurowings.

Modern and Clean Facilities: A range of stores, eateries, and lounges can be found at ARN, all of which are spotless and well-maintained. Scandinavian design elements can be seen all around the terminals, providing a cozy atmosphere for travelers.

Efficient Transportation Links: One of the quickest airport-to-city links in Europe is provided by the Arlanda Express train, which takes just 18 minutes to get to central Stockholm. Other possibilities at different price points are provided by commuter trains and buses.

Easy Terminal Transfer: The Arlanda Express at Stockholm Arlanda Airport provides free transportation in only one minute between Terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5. Transfers are made simple and quick with the help of the free shuttle buses that connect terminals, long-term parking, and vehicle rental agencies.

 

CONS

Distance from south-east from Uppsala: The 40 kilometers that separate the airport from the southeast of Uppsala may require more time. If one depends on taxis or private transportation, the travel might be lengthy, particularly during rush hours.

Crowding During Peak Hours: Despite its spacious layout, Stockholm Arlanda Airport may get crowded on busy travel days, especially during the summer, which means there will be lengthier lines for security and check-in.

Terminal Layout: For first-time visitors, the airport’s many terminals might be a little confusing. It may take more time, particularly for those with tight connections.

Long Immigration Lines: There may be extended waiting times at immigration during peak travel periods, leading to delays and frustration, particularly for non-European travelers arriving in the Schengen area.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Terminals: There are four terminals at Stockholm Arlanda Airport; Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5. International flights are handled by Terminal 2, domestic or regional flights are served by Terminals 3 and 4, while charter and international flights are handled by Terminal 5. Note that terminal 3 is currently closed.

Transport to and from Stockholm: ARN has excellent transportation links to central Stockholm, including the Arlanda Express rail, taxis, public buses, and commuter trains. The fastest option is the Arlanda Express, which takes just 18 minutes to get to the city center. While taxis offer convenience, particularly when traveling with bags, buses are more cost-effective.

Check-in Areas:

• Terminal 2: Check-in counters (1 to 15 and 18 to 30) are located in the level 3 of terminal 2.
• Terminal 4: Check-in area of terminal 4 is located in the level 2.
• Terminal 5: Check-in area of terminal 4 is located in the level 2 along with other amenities and services.

Dining and Shopping: Arlanda has a wide range of stores and places to eat, with local food, worldwide brands, and Swedish mementos. There are alternatives for sit-down meals and fast bites before your flight at the many cafes and eateries located throughout the terminals.

Family-Friendly Amenities: With family travel in mind, Stockholm Arlanda Airport features kid-friendly play areas, baby-changing rooms, and peaceful spaces for unwinding. Traveling with little children will be made comfortable with these amenities.

Lounges: There are several lounge choices available to passengers, including the Pearl Lounge and others. Before your flight, unwind in a calm environment with food, beverages, and cozy sitting at these lounges.

Additional Information: Stockholm Arlanda Airport offers free Wi-Fi throughout all terminals, allowing passengers to stay connected while waiting for their flights. The airport also provides luggage storage services, allowing travelers to store their bags securely.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Stockholm Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Stockholm Airport (last month)