Lapland Air Command advocates for second runway at Rovaniemi Airport in Finland

The Lapland Air Command is advocating for the construction of a second runway at Rovaniemi Airport in the future. Petteri Puusa, the Chief of Staff, believes it would be wise to explore and design the possibility of a new runway. “A second runway would significantly enhance air traffic flexibility and reduce the risk of interruptions due to runway damage,” Puusa stated in an email.

Currently, the airport has only one runway, which suffered severe frost damage last winter. This damage raised concerns, as loose materials could have potentially harmed the engines of military jets. Consequently, Hornet fighters had to be operated from an alternative site in Oulunsalo during the Nordic Response 24 exercise. Puusa argues that a new runway would be a reasonable solution for readiness as well, allowing for controlled repairs on one runway while operations continue on the other in case of damage from adverse conditions or hostile actions.

Finavia, the state-owned company responsible for the airport, repaired cracks caused by frost last spring. While the runway is currently in satisfactory condition, upcoming winters raise concerns. The frost issues have primarily affected military jets, but civilian and transport aircraft have not been affected so far.

Johan Juujärvi, the airport manager, noted that the runway surface was last renewed in 2016 and is holding up well. However, he emphasized that the harsh conditions last winter were particularly challenging. Puusa mentioned that the foundations of a new runway could potentially be built more robustly than those of the existing one.

The Lapland Air Command points out that the current single runway is sufficient for now, but coordinating civil and military traffic could lead to delays in takeoffs. “A second runway would greatly streamline air traffic,” Puusa concluded. Finavia will also implement schedule advisory services at Rovaniemi and Kittilä airports for the upcoming winter season, enhancing operational efficiency.