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Enontekio airport to undergo major renovation in Finland, boosting summer tourism and military support

Wednesday 24th 2024 on 07:02 in  
Finland

Enontekio, a municipality in Finland, is one of the few localities in the country that owns its own airport. This August, the airport will undergo a significant renovation, with its runway, taxiway, and apron being resurfaced at a cost of over five million euros. Marko Halla, the airport’s CEO, stated, “This will extend the lifespan of the airport by 15 to 20 years.”

The municipality aims to boost summer tourism in the region, and the new surface will allow larger aircraft to operate during the summer months. Halla highlighted the current state of the apron as being a “mosaic,” which cannot support the operations of heavier planes in its present condition.

Recently, Enontekio Airport was also designated as a critical company within the Air Transport Pool of Finland’s Emergency Supply Agency. This allocation ensures the operational requirements for essential firms and provides them with training and exercises. In March, the airport participated in NATO’s Nordic Response 24 exercise, supporting hundreds of military vehicles. With the renovation, there will be improved conditions for military aircraft, which can be sensitive to sand and gravel.

Financially, the municipality received approximately five million euros in support for the resurfacing from the Lapland Regional Council and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. However, due to rising costs, Enontekio had to allocate an additional 314,000 euros to the project.

Despite discussions about the airport’s utility, which some locals see as a burden, Halla remains optimistic about future passenger growth. Last year saw around 33,000 travelers, primarily from the UK via charter flights. Halla predicts a significant passenger increase within the next five years, aiming to reach breakeven financially.

Source 
(via yle.fi)