Finavia invests in the development of tourism in Lapland: Extending Rovaniemi Airport's terminal

The development of passenger volumes at Rovaniemi Airport has been very strong throughout Europe in recent years. In 2024, the number of passengers increased by nearly 30 per cent compared to the previous year. As a result, the number of passengers in Rovaniemi Airport was almost one million last year, most of them international passengers. 

Lapland is an attractive destination, and interest in Lapland’s tourism has grown strongly in recent years, which has increased airlines’ interest in Rovaniemi.  Extending the passenger facilities at Rovaniemi Airport will help prepare for the continued growth of tourism in Lapland and ensure a smooth passenger experience also in the future. 

"For years, Finavia has been investing in the development of airports in Lapland so that tourism in the Lapland region could grow and develop. During 2018–2020, we implemented a significant EUR 60 million investment programme at Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Ivalo airports. Rovaniemi Airport represented just under half of the total investment at EUR 25 million. Thanks to the investments made in the past and the continuous development of customer experience, the customer satisfaction of Lapland's tourists with the airport experience is very high. It is clear that a good passenger experience must be maintained even at a rapid rate of growth, so I am very pleased to announce a new investment in Rovaniemi," says Jani Jolkkonen, Finavia’s Senior Vice President, Airport Network, about the investment decision. 

The extension work will be carried out during April–November  

The new extension will be located in front of the airport and will increase the size of the airport’s departures hall by almost a thousand square metres. Due to the change, the traffic arrangements in front of the airport will be changed during the summer. 

The extension to be implemented in summer 2025 will not affect air traffic operations. Construction work at the airport is scheduled to begin in April 2025 and will be completed in November 2025.  

Finavia's long-term investments in tourism in Lapland 

Finavia has invested a total of more than EUR 100 million in the development of Lapland’s airports over the past ten years. In addition to development investments, Finavia has implemented normal life cycle management of the airports’ infrastructure, including runway renovations and equipment purchases. As a result of long-term sustainability efforts, Lapland’s airports reached net zero carbon emissions in 2024 and they also hold Visit Finland's sustainable travel certificate.  

FINAVIA CORPORATION 
Communications 

For the press: Illustration of the extension available here.  UKI Arkkitehdit Oy to be mentioned when using the illustrations. 

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Facts about Rovaniemi Airport 

• The number of passengers in 2024 reached a record 948,000 (+29%). Passengers on international flights 44%, passengers on domestic flights 56%. 
• The runway is 3,000 metres long and crosses the Arctic Circle. 
• In 2024, Airports Council International (ACI) ranked Rovaniemi Airport among the top three airports in Europe in its size category of less than five million passengers. 
• In 2019, the Finnish Lapland Tourist Board gave Finavia the award for the best travel achievement of the year in Lapland for improving the accessibility of Lapland. 

Investments in Rovaniemi Airport in 2018–2020 

• EUR 25 million 
• 5,000 m2 more terminal space (+75%) 
• 10 more passport control points (+50%) 
• 3 new departure gates: 1 bridge gate and 2 bus gates (+150%) 
• 6 new check-in lines (+75%) 
• luggage centre extension 
• updated shopping and restaurant services 

History of Rovaniemi Airport 

• The construction project of the airport began in 1939. 
• The airport was opened in 1940, when Aero Oy began to operate a regular service from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. 
• Regular scheduled flights resumed after the war in 1948. 
• The first Christmas charter flight arrived from London to Rovaniemi on 25 December 1984. 
• The 80th anniversary of Rovaniemi Airport was celebrated in 2020.