Skavsta (NKO)

...the North/South Swedish motorway E4, Skavsta airport is one of Sweden's fastest growing airports and one of the largest Cargo airports in the whole of Sweden. The airport provides easy access to Stockholm City, and the main parts of nearby towns Norrköping, Linköping and Södertälje.

Currently the only passenger airline operating from Skavsta is Ryanair, but the aiport has been designed with expansion in mind, and will be capable of ...
...restaurants and snack & bar facilities including an airside shop where you can get savings of up to 50 % off "High Street" prices on cosmetics & perfumes etc.

The airport itself is tiny, just one level - so no stairs, lifts or escalators, making it suitable for people with disabilities.

The airport was originally a military base in second world war, but developed into a civil airport in 1984. In 1998 it was ... more

Chances are if you fly to Sweden with Ryanair, you'll land at Skavsta. Situated 100 km south-west of Stockholm, a few minutes from the North/South Swedish motorway E4, Skavsta airport is one of Sweden's fastest growing airports and one of the largest Cargo airports in the whole of Sweden. The airport provides easy access to Stockholm City, and the main parts of nearby towns Norrköping, Linköping and Södertälje.

Currently the only passenger airline operating from Skavsta is Ryanair, but the aiport has been designed with expansion in mind, and will be capable of handling 1million passengers.

The airport provides shops, restaurants and snack & bar facilities including an airside shop where you can get savings of up to 50 % off "High Street" prices on cosmetics & perfumes etc.

The airport itself is tiny, just one level - so no stairs, lifts or escalators, making it suitable for people with disabilities.

The airport was originally a military base in second world war, but developed into a civil airport in 1984. In 1998 it was bought from the local authority by TBI, an experienced international airport operator, who operates across 4 continents in 10 countries, more than 30 locations. Investment in extending the terminal building and runways then took place.

WHERE CAN I FLY TO?
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Ryanair, currently offers flights to the following desinations from Skavsta.

London Stansted (3 flights daily)
Paris, Hamburg, Oslo, Tampere, Frankfurt (2 flights a day)
1 flight a day to Glasgow & Aarhus

So not a huge range of choice, but Ryanair is contantly expanding it's range. The advantages though are that the airport is never that busy, there are never thousands of people wandering around at the same time, with endless queues for everything - got to be a plus point.

GETTING THERE & GETTING TO STOCKHOLM
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Getting to and from the airport is easy enough, by car - the airport is sign-posted from North or South. There are 2 long stay car parks, with a total 530 car capacity, prices for a weeks parking is 250Kr (about £16), or daily kr (£4). Monthly and yearly tickets are also available.

Avoid the risk of leaving your car by getting a taxi to or from Stockholm - best to agree a price with the driver before setting off, the 60 minute journey may cost as much as £80.

Take the train (cost about £5) to Nyköping from Stockholm, which runs every hour, but you'll need then to get a taxi from the station to the airport which is about 10 minutes drive, and costs about £10.

By far the simplest way to get to and from the airport though is by airport coach (called Flygbussarna). These depart from gate 24 at Stockholm Cityterminal, and cost 80kr (£5.30) one way or 150kr (£10) for an open return. Special frequent traveller tickets are also available. This is an 80 minute journey, and times are to co-incide with flight times. If you have just arrived in Sweden, the coach will wait til all passengers are on-board, and the airport is clear. Tickets can be purchased from the driver. The coach is located right outside the terminal building.

CHECKING IN
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Check-in is situated in the main terminal to the left of the entrance. You will need a valid passport and booking number ready. Luggage is dealt with in the usual way. Staff speak multiple languages, and English is no problem. Check-in is extremely quick. To give you an idea of how quick, we stood in a line of 20 people or so, my girlfriend needed the toilet, and by the time she got back, I was letting people go before me as we were at the front. No stress here..

FACILITIES b4 DEPARTURE
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Situated in the main terminal building between the two entrance doors, the information desk will help with all enquiries and even bookings. You will find useful items such as:

Airport coach tickets
Stansted Express rail tickets - 40% discount on normal return fares!
Luggage tags
Timetables
Travel insurance

If you haven't already done it, facilities for changing money can be found opposite the information desk in the FOREX bureau - no commission charges!

Between the info desk and the car rental companies in the main terminal is the "Rendezvous point". A few tables and chairs are provided to sit while you wait.

Toilets & Baby Change facilities are available, bedside the restaurant.

The restaurant is situated by the right hand entrance to the airport main terminal building. It serves Swedish meals, sandwiches and snacks, and drinks.

Car Hire desks are situated in the main terminal building.

Trolleys to carry your luggage are available at the main entrance to the terminal and in the baggage reclaim hall, and are free of charge.

There is a newsagent / gift shop in the main terminal, where you can buy the usual supply of papers and magazines, gifts, souvenirs, sweets and sandwiches etc. It's not too big, and the prices are about what you'd expect.

There is a postbox outside the main entrance of the terminal, to send your last minute postcards. Credit card telephones are also located in various parts of the terminal building.


DEPARTURE
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Departure is through security, overlooking the runways, but there's not much activity. You may be searched, and hand baggage is scanned as per all airports.

In the departure lounge, is the EU-shop, offering a choice of perfumes, after-shave, various gift items, all with a saving, at least cheaper than London High Street prices!

Products available include perfumes by Christian Dior, CK, Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, Gucci, Boss, Ralf Lauren, Georgio Armani, Lancome, Tommy, Davidoff, D&G, Biagotti, Issey Miyake, JPG, and othersm, and cosmetics by Lancome, Clinique & Biotherm.

In addition, a fairly good selection of sweets, souvenirs, and useful travel items.

Also in the departure lounge is a licensed Bar & Coffee Shop. More snacks for the journey are available here, as well as the usual alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Toilets can be found beside the bar/café and by the children's play area

A smoking area, just a small smelly room, is available in the departure lounge.

ARRIVAL/BAGGAGE RE-CLAIM
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Arrivals are dealt with quicky, and baggage arrives literally in minutes. As the aiport is so small, it's easy to find your luggage, pass through the airport and hop onto your ongoing transport.

So, not much else I can say - it's an airport, a small one, it's got all the basics you need, it's fast to pass through, friendly and fairly informal. Once when we passed through, Sweden were playing England and it seemed everyone, even the staff were watching it. The flight was slightly delayed taking off, it had to wait for the match to finish I think....

 

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