Stockholm Arlanda Airport is the main international airport serving Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. It is located in Sigtuna Municipality, north of Stockholm and nearly southeast of Uppsala. The airport is located within Stockholm County.

Arlanda is the largest airport in Sweden and the third-largest airport in the Nordic countries. The airport is the major gateway to international air travel for large parts of Sweden. Arlanda Airport was used by nearly 27 million passengers in 2017, with 21.2 million international passengers and 5.5 million domestic. The facility covers an expanse of about of airport property. Stockholm Arlanda serves as a major hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle.

Stockholm Arlanda Airport is larger than Stockholm's other airport, Stockholm Bromma Airport, which is located 7 km (4.3 mi) northwest of central Stockholm, but can be used only by smaller aircraft. Two further airports outside of Stockholm County are also included in STO, the IATA airport code for the Stockholm Metropolitan Area: Stockholm Skavsta Airport and Stockholm Västerås Airport, both located around away from the Swedish capital.

History Foundation and early years

Stockholm Arlanda Airport was opened on 1 April 1962 by King Gustaf VI Adolf.Arlanda Airliner World January 2019 pages 30-35

In 1983, the domestic traffic operated by Linjeflyg moved from Bromma to Arlanda, using the terminal now known as Terminal 4. In 1990, two new domestic terminals, Domestic 2 and 3, opened south of the first domestic terminal. In 1992, Terminal 2 was partly abandoned because of traffic decrease. It started to be used for international traffic the year after, and the main domestic and international terminals were renumbered to 4 and 5.

Early 2000s The third runway was built between 1998 and 2002; however, a recession in 2002 delayed its opening until 2003. At that time, protests were raised by people living under its flight path in the municipality of Upplands Väsby. Traffic has recovered since and is now showing healthy increases, but the third runway is only used during peak hours for environmental reasons. In September 2010, the first Airbus A380 landed at the airport.

In early 2014, Swedavia announced plans for further expansions of the airport terminal complex, including the construction of an additional pier for Terminal 5 in order to better accommodate larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 and address forecasts of rising passenger numbers. The plans were approved by the Environmental Court of Appeals in December 2014, and construction was scheduled to commence in the spring of 2015.

Development since 2020 In the spring of 2020, most flights were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SAS decided to fly only four domestic departures and four domestic arrivals from Arlanda, plus some international flights, after 6 April 2020SAS behåller ett inrikesflyg – fortsätter trafikera fyra orter SVT.se 3 April 2020 while Norwegian cancelled all flights from Arlanda except to Oslo.Norwegian ställer in alla inrikesflyg SVT.se 27 March 2020 Terminal 2, 3 and 4 closed and terminal 5 handled all passengers during this period (March 2020 – October 2021) The passenger figures were 97.7% lower in April 2020 than in April 2019. The figured picked up later, but in early 2021 were still more than 80% less per month than 2019.

In the spring of 2022, passenger figures rose again to more normal levels. This caused capacity problems, especially in the security check, because most of its staff were fired due to the pandemic recession. Additionally followed with the time to find and get security approval for and educate new staff. Terminal 4 could not open because transfer between it and Terminal 5 required a security check, and the security check was congested already, so Terminal 5 became congested. Swedavia built a new pedestrian tunnel between the two terminals, bypassing the security check area. It opened together with Terminal 4 at the end of June 2022.

In September 2024, Braathens Regional Airlines announced it would discontinue its regular flight services and relocate its operations from Bromma Airport to Stockholm Arlanda Airport, as a contract operator for SAS. This decision is expected to cause Bromma to lose around 90% of its traffic, potentially hastening its closure, and leaving Arlanda as Stockholm County's only public airport.

In 2025, Terminal 4 was incorporated into Terminal 5, with its gates becoming part of Terminal 5. In September 2026, Terminal 3 was closed and its gate area began being incorporated into Terminal 2, reducing the number of passenger terminals from four to two. Terminals Arlanda has two terminals: Terminal 2 and Terminal 5. The terminals have no separation of domestic and international flights, however gates are separated between Schengen and Non-Schengen departures. Two other areas of the airport previously operated as separate terminals, numbered 3 and 4; Terminal 4 has since been wholly incorporated into Terminal 5, while Terminal 3 is being incorporated into Terminal 2.

From 1992 to 2019, terminals 2 and 5 were used for international flights, and 3 and 4 for domestic flights. During the COVID-19 pandemic only Terminal 5 was used. In 2022, Terminals 4 and 5 were connected airside, enabling them to operate as a single terminal. In 2024, a separate remote gate facility, Gate Area A, was opened, accessed by shuttle bus from Terminal 5.

Arlanda has never had a Terminal 1. The designation was reserved for a potential terminal planned to be located just south of Terminal 2, which has never been built. Terminal 2

Gates 61–82

Terminal 2 (gates 61–82) was inaugurated on 12 December 1990, by Prince Bertil. Initially named Inrikes 2 ("Domestic 2"), it was designed for use by SAS as a domestic terminal, it features 8 aircraft parking stands with passenger bridges.

The terminal was constructed to facilitate short turnaround times, increased efficiency, and minimal walking distances for passengers. At its opening, it did not have security checks and was intended for passengers with hand luggage, allowing them to arrive just 10 minutes before departure. The design included double walk bridges suitable for MD-80 aircraft.

In 1992, SAS moved its domestic operations out of Terminal 2 due to a decrease in passenger traffic on domestic routes. The terminal then began accommodating other airlines, including Transwede Airways, for both domestic and international flights.

By the late 1990s, the terminal's capacity was insufficient to handle the growing passenger traffic. Significant updates were made in 2001 when Terminal 2 was reconfigured to handle exclusively international flights as part of preparations for Sweden's entry into the Schengen area. The terminal was adapted to meet new requirements, including the addition of security checks and a larger luggage claim area.

In 2013, Terminal 2 underwent a major refurbishment that expanded it by 2,500 square meters. The renovation added new transit areas, shops, and restaurants, as well as a new floor level with additional amenities such as restaurants and a lounge. Terminal 2 also features an express station for high-speed trains, Arlanda South Station, shared with terminals 3 and 4, but with its own dedicated escalator. There are buses between Terminal 2 and Terminal 5 without need for further security check.

, Norwegian relocated its international flights from Terminal 2 to Terminal 5 moving Air France and Czech Airlines to Terminal 2. In April 2013, British Airways and Finnair relocated to the newly renovated Terminal 2. Terminal 2 was closed due to COVID-19 between March 2020–October 2021. After reopening, Air France, Czech, Easyjet, KLM, Transavia and Vueling use Terminal 2.

Gates 51–59

The area comprising gates 51–59 is a pier which formerly operated as Terminal 3. Terminal 3 opened in 1990 to serve regional domestic aircraft and was designed to handle regional flights within Sweden.

The terminal featured a café and a boarding process where passengers walked outdoors from the gates and boarded aircraft using airstairs. Access to Terminal 3 was through Terminal 2, requiring a 200-metre walk.

In early 2020, Terminal 3 was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2024, PopulAir, Jonair and Västflyg commenced operations from Terminal 3, marking its reopening.

In 2026, the Terminal 3 security control was closed and construction began on a new corridor connecting the former Terminal 3 area with Terminal 2. The gate area is being incorporated into Terminal 2 and is planned to reopen as part of Terminal 2 at the end of 2026.

Terminal 5

Terminal 5 is the largest and oldest of Arlanda's current passenger terminals. The terminal was opened as Arlanda International in 1976 by King Carl XVI Gustaf. Built to handle both scheduled and charter international flights, Terminal 5 has since undergone several expansions.

In 1992, the terminal was renamed from Arlanda International to its current designation as Terminal 5, and in 1999 Arlanda North Station was opened, providing a direct rail link to Stockholm Central Station with the Arlanda Express. In 2003, Terminal 5 underwent a significant expansion that included the addition of a third pier. This expansion was part of a broader redevelopment of Arlanda Airport, which also saw the opening of Runway 3 and a new air traffic control tower. The expanded facilities were inaugurated on 17 December 2003, by Infrastructure Minister Ulrika Messing.

Since 2020, Terminal 5 at Stockholm Arlanda Airport has served both domestic and international flights. It functions as a hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle, and accommodates both Schengen and non-Schengen destinations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all traffic at Arlanda Airport was moved to Terminal 5 between March 2020 and October 2021.

Since 2022, Terminal 5 has been connected to the former Terminal 4 (gates C30–C44) via an airside walkway, allowing them to operate as a single terminal. Terminal 5 now manages arrivals, customs, and baggage reclaim for the C gates. A new security control facility equipped with CT scanners opened in early summer 2023. Expansion works included an new airside concourse and duty-free store. The 11,000-square-metre commercial area began opening in autumn 2023 and was completed in June 2025, with more than 40 new shops, cafés and restaurants.

Future plans for Terminal 5 include the addition of Pier G by 2040, which aims to increase the terminal's capacity to accommodate up to 40 million passengers annually, up from 25 million in 2019.

D and E Gates

Terminal 5 (gates D11–D24 and E1–E10) comprises two piers, D and E. These were part of the original Terminal 5 facilities, which were equipped with aircraft parking stands with passenger bridges.

F Gates

The F gates (F26–F69) form the third pier of Terminal 5, which was added in the 2003 expansion. The expanded facilities were inaugurated on 17 December 2003, by Infrastructure Minister Ulrika Messing.

Since 2018, some F gates at Terminal 5 have been able to support larger aircraft models such as the Airbus A380. C gates

The C gates (C30–C44) were formerly operated as Terminal 4. The terminal was inaugurated in 1983 by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. Initially named Inrikes 1 ("Domestic 1"), it was designed to handle domestic flights. The terminal took the form of a single pier and featured 14 aircraft parking stands with passenger bridges.

In 1984, Linjeflyg and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) relocated all operations from Stockholm Bromma Airport to the new terminal at Arlanda to consolidate their domestic and international departures. Due to increasing passenger numbers, the terminal soon became too small. To address this, Inrikes 2 (now Terminal 2) was established in 1990 for SAS, which moved its domestic flights from Inrikes 1 to the new terminal.