"Before the 2022 elections, we will be very tough, we think the airport should be closed down," says Monica Bubholz, environmentalist municipal council in Karlstad.

It's about both economy and the environment, according to Bubholz.

At the same time as the airport had a record number of travelers last year, the municipality-owned Karlstad Airport reported a record-low result: minus 34.6 million.

The politicians disagree

But the politicians in the ruling blue-green coalition are deeply disagreeing. The other parties in the political leadership have a completely different view than the environmental party.

- I don't know how they think in the long term, but I know we have to get more routes from Värmland, both to Stockholm and out to an international hub, he says.

The municipality has spent millions on expanding runways at the airport and hired a new CEO who wants to invest more on more routes.

- Shaming and shutting down is not the answer to the question. If we were to get rid of the airport, it would have a negative impact on business. We want to see a development and a continued viable airport, ”says Camilla Sperling, new CEO of Karlstad Airport.

Adheres to the party's position

But Monika Bubholz sticks to the party's opinion.

- We are facing an acute climate crisis and we have an airport that requires a lot of resources from the municipality and this does not go together. We do not think that Karlstad Municipality should operate an airport.