Weddings at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport popular

The air traffic control tower, VIP Service, the chapel – or why not a real jumbo jet? Some 450 couples chose Stockholm-Arlanda as the setting for their wedding last year. Same-sex weddings were an option for the first time in 2010.

It is popular for people to give their honeymoon precedence at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport. In 2010, nearly 450 couples opted to get married at the airport in connection with a trip.
“For couples that want to give priority to their honeymoon, a wedding at the airport right next to where their flight departs is a good solution,” says Anders Bredfell, press relations manager at Swedavia Arlanda.
The majority of couples at Stockholm-Arlanda chose a church wedding.
“Of the 261 couples that were married in a church ceremony, 200 couples chose to wed in the airport chapel. An important new development last year was the option of same-sex weddings. We had five same-sex weddings under the auspices of the Church of Sweden at Stockholm-Arlanda in the past year,” says Anders Berglund, an airport minister at Stockholm-Arlanda.
Some 25 couples chose to get married 74 metres up in the air, on the air control tower’s visitors balcony, with a view of the entire airport. Tower weddings are part of Arlanda VIP Services’ range of wedding options and include full service – check-in, the couple’s own lounge with catering and champagne and then transport straight to the waiting aircraft.  
A new addition for 2011 is the perfect wedding gift for couples who are already married and heading off on their honeymoon trip – they start the honeymoon at Stockholm-Arlanda with exclusive VIP service.
Jumbo Stay, the only hotel in the world that is an actual jumbo jet, also offers weddings at the airport. 
Take the opportunity and join the contest for an exclusive wedding package here at arlanda.se. Win a trip around the world and VIP service! The contest runs from Friday, January 28, 2011, to Sunday, February 20, 2011.

Facts about weddings at Stockholm-Arlanda:

Weddings may only take place in conjunction with a flight to/from Stockholm-Arlanda Airport. The airport offers both church ceremonies with a minister and civil ceremonies with a government official.

A church ceremony in the chapel is free of charge. No other services are included. At least one of the two people marrying must belong to the Church of Sweden.

Weddings through Arlanda VIP Service start at SEK 7,500

Record number of visitors at Sweden’s largest tourist information centre

Last year, 1.4 million travellers visited the Arlanda Visitor Center in Terminal 5 at Stockholm-Arlanda, which is an increase of 60 per cent compared to 2009. As a result, the airport is the most frequently visited tourist information centre in Sweden.

“The target for 2010 was to get one million visitors. The 60 per cent increase, to 1.4 million, is better than we dared hope. More people have discovered the Arlanda Visitor Center – we are becoming more widely known among travellers. Our collaboration with the tourism industry in the region has clearly helped,” says Gunnar Salomonsson, Head of Swedavia Passenger Services at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.
Overall, Stockholm-Arlanda had 17 million passengers in 2010, an increase of six per cent compared to 2009. Those visiting Arlanda Visitor Center represent a cross-section of travellers at the airport.
“During the summer and on weekends, most visitors are tourists visiting Stockholm. On weekdays, it is business travellers. Many people also take the opportunity to visit the centre at night, when it is open but unstaffed. The most frequently asked question? How do I get to Stockholm?” Mr Salomonsson says.
The concept of a combined tourist/airport information centre has inspired other airports to start up similar operations. The Malmö Airport Visitor Center recently opened at Malmö Airport.

About the Arlanda Visitor Center

The Arlanda Visitor Center is operated as a collaboration between Swedavia, the Stockholm Visitors Board and Sigtuna Turism. In addition to airport and tourist information, the centre also sells tickets for Arlanda Express, the high-speed to Stockholm; Flygbussarna airport coaches; SL, Stockholm Public Transport; and bus service for Upplands lokaltrafik and Swebus. Tickets are also sold here for boat rides with Strömma Kanalbolaget. The Arlanda Visitor Center also provides a wide range of tourist brochures.
Terminal 2 has an Arlanda Visitor Center in a smaller format which offers the same range of products.