Even in the 2025 survey of the world's best airports, Arlanda Stockholm is among the top 100 airports but lands on a rather unflattering spot compared to major competitors in the Nordics Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and Copenhagen Kastrup.
Skytrax research
Skytrax is an international, independent analysis and rating company in the aviation industry, founded in 1989 in London. They are best known for their World Airport Awards, where they rank the world's airports and airlines based on comprehensive customer surveys and quality assessments. Skytrax evaluates everything from service, comfort, and cleanliness to food offerings, shopping, and security checks.
Sweden's Arlanda Stockholm far down the list
Arlanda ranks 77th in Skytrax's ranking of the best airports in the world. However, it's a small improvement from 81st place.
Will Stockholm Arlanda Airport get better?
There are political proposals and forces working towards an upgrade to make Arlanda more competitive.
The Moderate Party's budget proposal for Stockholm 2025 includes several initiatives to strengthen Arlanda Airport and its accessibility:
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Improved accessibility: The Municipal Council and Stockholm Business Region AB will actively participate in the work to improve Arlanda Airport and increase its accessibility.
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Re-entry into Connect Sweden: Stockholm Business Region AB is proposed to re-enter the aviation collaboration project Connect Sweden to strengthen air connections.
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Support for the Eastern Link (Östlig förbindelse): The Municipal Council will work to ensure that the construction of the Eastern Link is carried out, which would improve road connections to Arlanda.
There is also a Government public inquiry has been initiated to invest in rail to strengthen Arlanda Airport's competitiveness.
In other words, there are forces working towards improving Arlanda's competitiveness.
Top 10 airports in the world
- 5 Asian airports
- 4 European airports
- 1 Middle Eastern airport
- Singapore Changi Airport (Singapore)
- Hamad International Airport (Doha, Qatar)
- Tokyo Haneda Airport (Japan)
- Incheon International Airport (South Korea)
- Narita International Airport (Japan)
- Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong)
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (France)
- Rome Fiumicino Airport (Italy)
- Munich Airport (Germany)
- Zurich Airport (Switzerland)
The best Nordic airports
- Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (Finland): 12th globally and awarded "Best Airport in Northern Europe" 2025.
- Copenhagen Airport/Kastrup (Denmark): 18th globally and also wins the award for "World's Best Airport Security".
Source: Skytrax
