Rovaniemi Airport

Rovaniemi Airport
Rovaniemen lentoasema
Summary
Airport typePublic / military
OperatorFinavia
ServesRovaniemi, Finland
Elevation AMSL642 ft (196 m)
Coordinates66°33′42″N 025°49′51″E / 66.56167°N 25.83083°E / 66.56167; 25.83083
Websitefinavia.fi
Map
RVN is located in Finland
RVN
RVN
Location within Finland
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
03/21 3,002 9,849 Asphalt
Statistics (2025)
Passengers1,120,022 [1]
Passenger change 24-25Increase +18.4%
Aircraft movements9,456
Source: AIP Finland[2]

Rovaniemi Airport (Finnish: Rovaniemen lentoasema) (IATA: RVN, ICAO: EFRO) is an international airport serving Rovaniemi, Finland, approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Rovaniemi city centre. The Arctic Circle crosses the runway close to its northern end. It is the second busiest airport in Finland after Helsinki-Vantaa, as measured by the numbers of passengers and landings.[3]

History

Construction

The airport was built in 1940 with two grass-surfaced runways. During the Continuation War, it served as an airbase and supply center for the German Luftwaffe.[4]

Operational history

Services were first operated by Aero O/Y (predecessor to Finnair). On 21.6.1940 Aero O/Y started operations of the "Lapland Express"-flight route from Helsinki to Petsamo via Tampere, Vaasa, Kokkola, Oulu, Kemi, Rovaniemi and Sodankylä. The route was operated by Junkers Ju 52/3m-aircraft, with a travel time of 8.5 hours.[5] The runway was extended to the length of 3002m in 1981.[5]

In 2020s, the airport has seen a major increase in passengers following a rise in Lapland tourism, with passenger numbers rising by 31.1% from 2023 to 2024 and 29% from 2024 to 2025. Citing increased tourist traffic in Rovaniemi Airport Finavia announced plans to expand the airport terminal by "nearly 1000 square meters" in April 2025[6]. The extension increased the landside area of the terminal at a cost of €3 million and was completed on October 28th, 2025.[7]

Facilities

Picture is taken from asphalt outside the airport terminal, showing the parking area and the terminal building itself being overhauled. There is a metal fence, and a road roller behind the fence.
Construction during the 2025 terminal expansion

Rovaniemi Airport is one of three airports in Finland that have jet bridges (the other two are Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and Oulu Airport). The airport is managed by Finavia. It is connected to Rovaniemi city centre by an airport bus[8], and there are also multiple bus connections around Lapland, including to major winter sports centers.[9][10]

Rovaniemi Airport is the second-busiest airport in Finland after Helsinki airport.[11] Santa Claus Village and Santa Park are within 2–3 kilometres (1.2–1.9 mi). The airport is about 8–9 kilometres (5.0–5.6 mi) away from Rovaniemi city centre, so that many restaurants and hotels are nearby. The busiest time for the airport is in the Christmas season, when many people go on Santa Flights.[12] In April 2025, Finavia announced plans to expand the airport by approximately €3 million because of the constantly growing tourism to Lapland; the expansion work was completed in October of the same year.[13]

In addition to civil traffic, the runway is also used by F-18 fighter interceptors of Lapin lennosto (Lapland Air Wing). The Rovaniemen vartiolentue (Finnish Border Guard Air Patrol Squadron) is also located nearby.[14]


Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Rovaniemi Airport:

AirlinesDestinations
Air France Seasonal: Paris–Charles de Gaulle[15]
Austrian Airlines Seasonal: Vienna[16]
British Airways Seasonal: London–Gatwick (begins 4 December 2026)[17]
easyJet[18] Seasonal: Amsterdam,[19] Belfast–International,[20] Berlin,[21] Birmingham,[22] Bordeaux,[23] Bristol,[24] Edinburgh,[25] Geneva,[26] London–Gatwick,[19] London–Luton,[19] London–Southend,[27] Lyon,[28] Manchester,[29] Milan–Malpensa,[19] Naples,[30] Nice,[31] Paris–Charles de Gaulle[19]
Edelweiss Air Seasonal: Zurich[32]
Eurowings Seasonal: Berlin,[33] Düsseldorf,[34] Hamburg,[35] Stuttgart[35]
Finnair Helsinki,[36] Tromsø[37]
Iberia Seasonal: Madrid[38]
Israir Airlines Seasonal: Tel Aviv[39]
Jet2.com Seasonal charter: Manchester[40]
KLM Seasonal: Amsterdam[41]
LOT Polish Airlines Seasonal: Warsaw–Chopin[42]
Lufthansa Seasonal: Frankfurt,[43] Munich (begins 4 December 2026)[43]
Luxair Seasonal: Luxembourg[44]
Neos Seasonal: Milan–Malpensa,[45] Rome–Fiumicino[45]
Norwegian Air Shuttle Helsinki[46]
Seasonal: Barcelona,[47] London–Gatwick,[48] Munich[49] Tromsø[50]
Ryanair Milan-Bergamo[51]
Seasonal: Birmingham,[52] Bristol,[53] Brussels-Charleroi,[54] Dublin,[54] Liverpool,[54] London–Stansted,[54] Manchester,[55] Paris-Beauvais,[56] Shannon[57]
Scandinavian Airlines Seasonal: Copenhagen[58]
SunExpress Seasonal: İzmir[59]
Transavia Seasonal: Paris–Orly[60]
TUI Airways Seasonal: Birmingham,[61] Bristol,[62] London–Gatwick,[63] Manchester,[63] Newcastle upon Tyne[64]
Turkish Airlines Seasonal: Istanbul[65]
Vueling Seasonal: Barcelona[66]

Statistics

In 2025, the airport served about 1.1 million passengers. The main season of charter traffic from the United Kingdom and many other European countries lasts from the end of November until the middle of January annually.

Annual passenger statistics for Rovaniemi Airport [1][67][68][69]
YearDomestic
passengers		%changeInternational
passengers		% changeTotal passengers% change
1998286,5480 Steady41,1040 Steady327,6520 Steady
1999294,1102.6 Increase52,31627.3 Increase346,4265.7 Increase
2000288,343-2.0 Decrease55,7906.6 Increase344,133-0.7 Decrease
2001280,407-2.8 Decrease71,63728.4 Increase352,0442.3 Increase
2002257,043-8.3 Decrease83,06115.9 Increase340,104-3.4 Decrease
2003277,8598.1 Increase87,0394.8 Increase364,8987.3 Increase
2004289,1454.1 Increase105,40521.1 Increase394,5508.1 Increase
2005295,2052.1 Increase89,317-15.3 Decrease384,522-2.5 Decrease
2006330,91012.1 Increase101,37213.5 Increase432,28212.4 Increase
2007348,2755.2 Increase101,6610.3 Increase449,9364.1 Increase
2008308,870-11.3 Decrease91,697-9.8 Decrease400,567-11.0 Decrease
2009245,963-20.4 Decrease63,642-30.6 Decrease309,605-22.7 Decrease
2010246,4640.2 Increase63,244-0.6 Decrease309,7080.0 Steady
2011329,99033.9 Increase66,8355.7 Increase396,82528.1 Increase
2012345,7634.8 Increase58,129-13.0 Decrease403,8921.8 Increase
2013363,6705.2 Increase63,6979.6 Increase427,3675.8 Increase
2014376,1833.4 Increase68,3787.3 Increase444,5614.0 Increase
2015404,7127.6 Increase73,6357.7 Increase478,3477.6 Increase
2016397,799-1.7 Decrease90,05822.3 Increase487,8572.0 Increase
2017455,58914.5 Increase123,88137.6 Increase579,47018.8 Increase
2018512,03312.4 Increase132,1116.6 Increase644,14411.2 Increase
2019540,4675.6 Increase120,657-8.7 Decrease661,1242.6 Increase
2020219,259-59.4 Decrease48,863-59.5 Decrease268,122-59.4 Decrease
2021198,119-9.6 Decrease56,77116.2 Increase254,890-4.9 Decrease
2022401,694102.8 Increase159,040180.1 Increase560,734120.0 Increase
2023454,77513.2 Increase280,30376.2 Increase735,07831.1 Increase
2024527,77316.0 Increase420,41850.0 Increase948,15129.0 Increase
2025516,184-2.2 Decrease603,83844.3 Increase1,120,02218.4 Increase

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Traffic statistics - Finavia". www.finavia.fi.
  2. ↑ "EFRO Rovaniemi" (PDF). AIP Suomi / Finland. Finavia. 30 June 2011. pp. EFRO AD 2.1, 1–14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  3. ↑ "Traffic statistics | Finavia". www.finavia.fi. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  4. ↑ DeZeng IV, Henry L. "Luftwaffe Airfields 1935-45 Finland" (PDF). ww2.dk. Retrieved 19 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. 1 2 "Facts about Rovaniemi Airport | Finavia". www.finavia.fi. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Lapland's Rovaniemi Airport getting €3m expansion". Yle News. 22 April 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "The expansion of the departures hall at Rovaniemi Airport has been completed". 8 October 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ↑ "Timetables". AIRPORT EXPRESS. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Bus transports and timetables | Luosto.fi". www.luosto.fi. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Bus connection | Pyhä.fi". www.pyha.fi. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "PASSENGERS 2023". Finavia.fi. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  12. ↑ "Santa Holiday Flights". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  13. ↑ "The expansion of the departures hall at Rovaniemi Airport has been completed". Finavia. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "Air Patrol Squadron". The Finnish Border Guard. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  15. ↑ Orban, André (24 August 2022). "Air France to fly to Finnish airport of Kittilä as well as Rovaniemi in the winter". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Rovaniemi Airport gears up for record-breaking winter". 3 December 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "New Direct Flight Route from Rovaniemi to London Gatwick". 8 July 2026. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "EasyJet to connect Rovaniemi with Bordeaux, Lyon, and Nice and three other cities this winter". 21 June 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Orban, André (20 June 2025). "easyJet launches first-ever Belfast–Rovaniemi route for winter 2026". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "EasyJet confirms 22 new routes for winter 2025/26 including Belfast-Lapland | TTG".
  21. ↑ Mishra, Neerja (4 January 2026). "Heavy Snowfall in Europe Trigger Mass Flight Cancellations: Check Major Airports Hit, Most Affected Regions & Key Routes". The Sunday Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  22. ↑ Chaplin, Emily (25 November 2024). "EasyJet launches 'Santa Service' Birmingham Airport flights from £37". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "New easyJet service from Bordeaux: see all scheduled routes". connexionfrance. 15 May 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  24. ↑ Earle, Edie (5 August 2025). "New flights from Bristol to Lapland". Bristol24/7. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "easyJet launches eight new flights for winter 2023/24". UK Aviation News. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  26. ↑ Orban, André (25 January 2025). "easyJet flight from Rovaniemi to Geneva and Brussels Airlines flight to Kittilä diverted for technical or weather-related reasons". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  27. ↑ "EasyJet adds new winter flights from Southend Airport to "magical" Finland destination". Yoursouthend.co.uk. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  28. ↑ Lassetter, Jon (20 January 2025). "easyJet is Lyon's largest airline; the airport has 100+ destinations in Q1; Paris CDG is first". Air Service One. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  29. ↑ "easyJet started a new direct flight route from Manchester to Rovaniemi". 22 November 2019.
  30. ↑ Ros, Miquel (9 December 2023). "European airlines are flocking to Lapland - AeroTime". Aerotime Aero. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  31. ↑ Henshell, Richard (21 October 2024). "EasyJet announces 27 new international lines from France (4 are to UK)". connexionfrance. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  32. ↑ "Edelweiss Air Increases Summer 2025 Flight Frequencies to Kos and Rhodes". 24 January 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  33. ↑ Lassetter, Jon (13 December 2023). "Rovaniemi added 10+ airlines with huge international growth, but Finnair still the largest carrier". Air Service One. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  34. ↑ Lassetter, Jon (21 December 2023). "New Route of the Day (16 December 2023): Lufthansa between Munich and Oulu". Air Service One. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  35. 1 2 Molyneaux, Ian (27 September 2024). "Eurowings ramps up winter flight schedule, adds new routes". Aerotime Aero. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  36. ↑ Sosroutomo, Cindy (5 May 2026). "Finnair returns to Canada with Toronto–Helsinki launch, confirms 2027 comeback". Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  37. ↑ "Finnair adds three direct flights to Lapland from European cities". ArcticToday. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  38. ↑ Ros, Miquel (9 December 2023). "European airlines are flocking to Lapland - AeroTime". Aerotime Aero. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  39. ↑ "Direct flights to Lapland from the end of January". The Jerusalem Post. WALLA! TOURISM. 13 September 2025. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  40. ↑ Clarke, Liv (24 March 2026). "Manchester Airport announces new route to Lapland with tickets from £120". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  41. ↑ Lassetter, Jon (1 December 2025). "New Route of the Day (23 November 2025): KLM between Amsterdam and Kittila". Air Service One. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  42. ↑ "LOT Polish Airlines orders 55 aircraft and launches new long-haul routes for 2026". 23 February 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  43. 1 2 William, Helen (21 March 2026). "Lufthansa Adds New Flights to Hometown of Santa Claus". Aviation A2Z. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  44. ↑ Backes, Sabrina (20 July 2025). "Travel from Luxembourg to these destinations by direct flight". Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  45. 1 2 "Neos : oggi primi voli per B737 EI-HIM". Italiavola & Travel (in Italian). 11 December 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  46. ↑ Mayling, Samantha (18 January 2023). "Visit Finland joins Atas to showcase 'wonderful opportunities'". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  47. ↑ Huguet, Carles (5 March 2025). "Norwegian cuts capacity in Barcelona after last year's surge in supply". Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  48. ↑ "Norwegian starter "nissefly" fra London og München". 6 May 2024.
  49. ↑ "Norwegian starter "nissefly" fra London og München". 6 May 2024.
  50. ↑ Broadbent, Mark (11 February 2025). "Norwegian details winter 2025/26 routes". Key Aero. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  51. ↑ Orban, André (1 August 2023). "Ryanair to launch a route from Rovaniemi Airport to Bergamo, Italy, in the winter". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  52. ↑ Orban, André (7 August 2025). "Ryanair expands winter operations to Rovaniemi with record route offering". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  53. ↑ "News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry | CAPA".
  54. 1 2 3 4 Orban, André (30 June 2023). "Next winter Ryanair to fly directly from Rovaniemi Airport to Liverpool in addition to Dublin, Charleroi and Stansted". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  55. ↑ "News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry | CAPA".
  56. ↑ "News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry | CAPA".
  57. ↑ "Ryanair to boost Shannon winter services". The Irish Times.
  58. ↑ Orban, André (16 May 2024). "SAS unveils expanded winter destinations in Scandinavia". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  59. ↑ Irtak, Kenan (15 October 2024). "SunExpress kış sezonu için 15 yeni hatta uçacak". Anadolu Ajansı (in Turkish). Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  60. ↑ Dagouret, David (28 May 2024). "Transavia lance une ligne vers Tromso en Norvège" (in French). Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  61. ↑ Forte, Joe (15 December 2025). "Birmingham Airport confirms full list of new direct routes for 2026". BirminghamWorld. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  62. ↑ "TUI's biggest-ever Lapland programme kicks off this week".
  63. 1 2 Flach, Charlotte (22 June 2023). "TUI releases Lapland 2024 breaks early - Selling Travel". Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  64. ↑ "Newcastle to Lapland - direct flights launched to meet demand for Christmas 2024". 26 June 2023.
  65. ↑ Nilsen, Thomas (30 October 2022). "Rovaniemi gets seven new flight connections to European cities". thebarentsobserver. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  66. ↑ Fernández de Castro, Xavi (25 April 2025). "Barcelona estrena nueva ruta directa al pueblo de Papá Noel". Tot Barcelona (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  67. ↑ "Finavia statistics 1998-2017" (PDF). Finavia Corporation. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  68. ↑ "Passengers by airports" (PDF). Finavia Corporation. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  69. ↑ "Finavia Traffic statistics 1998-2025". Retrieved 25 January 2026.

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