Grafair Jet Center, headquartered at Bromma in Sweden, is looking back on a successful year in which it celebrated a decade in business aviation and won EBAN's February FBO survey, and reveals its upcoming development at Arlanda. FBO manager Johan Emmoth outlines the plans: “We have had our customers telling us for many, many years that we really should open up at Arlanda. Bromma airport is the first choice for everybody going to Stockholm. It is natural that if you come with a business jet, then you have business in the city, and Bromma is very close to the city centre. We also have our own facility here, with our own ramp and everything.

“It is true that at Bromma the whole process is smooth – I would say the smoothest in Europe, and I know that because I'm a pilot as well. However, it closes at 10pm from Monday to Friday, sometimes it closes as early as 5pm on Saturdays, and doesn't open until midday on Sundays.

“Because of how convenient Bromma is, clients have changed their destination to there, because they like it so much. But still, their aircraft could be delayed and then they end up at Arlanda International airport, and sometimes they have instantly cancelled all of their services with us, in order to start over again at Arlanda.

“We have never had anything at Arlanda because our focus has always been to do our very best at Bromma. But the reason for us opening at Arlanda is to give our existing customers even better service, as a second option.”

He says that his target is to make Arlanda finish at number two in the survey, behind Bromma. It will be possible to attract bigger aircraft such as a private B757 at Arlanda, as it has a longer runway, and Grafair now has its own facility as part of terminal five. “It is close to the main gate at the airport, which means you can be picked up at the ramp, with your own vehicle,” Emmoth continues. “For the pilots we have a beautiful crew lounge, and the focus is very much on the crew and the service. As a passenger, normally you wouldn't stay in a lounge facility, you would want to go directly to the aircraft.

“What people will recognise in Arlanda is that we are doing the same thing as at Bromma: the all-inclusive concept. Everywhere else in Europe has 'light handling' or 'exclusive handling' and then if you want to have a GPU or heater, that costs you extra. Grafair has always included everything in the terminal user fee.

“The only issue is that Swedavia, which runs Arlanda and Bromma, is not enthusiastic about having business aviation at an international airport. They simply feel all of this traffic should go to Bromma. Nonetheless, our discussions with Swedavia have gone quite far, and in time we will come to an arrangement that suits both parties.”