Increased focus on developing intercontinental routes to Sweden – new Director of Intercontinental Route Development

Intercontinental routes are essential to support the fast growing Swedish economy. During the last two years, 14 new direct intercontinental routes have been inaugurated from Stockholm Arlanda Airport.

Swedavia is currently planning and expanding capacity at Arlanda to be able to meet the demand of the future and becoming Scandinavia´s leading airport 2020. In total, 1.5 billion Euro are allocated to meet demand of international travel to and from Stockholm. Ongoing development includes code-F capability which enables aircrafts such as A380, improved transfer flows and increased remote capacity. Already, passenger satisfaction has improved to record figures.

- We have an ambitious strategy of connecting Sweden with direct intercontinental routes to the main airport hubs in Asia and North America. This will help support Swedish export companies’ market access, and simultaneously boost the number of inbound travellers to Sweden, says Elizabeth Axtelius, Director Aviation Business at Swedavia.

Today airline executives increasingly expect airports to analyze, develop, and present them with in-depth analysis of new route opportunities. To do so, airports need to have thorough understanding of how airlines work, analyze, and prioritize.

Swedavia is now strengthening the Aviation Business team by employing Ole Wieth Christensen as Director of Intercontinental Route Development. Ole will be overall responsible for development and execution of Swedavia’s Intercontinental Route Development Strategy. Ole has worked with Copenhagen Airport since 2003 in different positions. The last six years he has served as Director for Airline Sales & Route Development. He holds a M.Sc. in International Business and an MBA in International Management.

- At Swedavia we have an ambitious focus on attracting and retaining talented employees who can help us develop airline traffic at our ten airports. Ole has a deep knowledge about the airport- and aviation market, a strong sales focus and he has delivered good results in his previous positions. In this context, we are very happy to have Ole join our team, says Elizabeth Axtelius.

- I am extremely excited to be offered this opportunity to join a great team of people with a really ambitious growth strategy at Swedavia. I hope to be able to use my past experience and personal network in the aviation industry to help our airline partners develop intercontinental traffic to and from Scandinavia’s largest market, says Ole Wieth Christensen.