Enontekiö Airport to be kept in operation

The country’s airports operator Finavia and the Municipality of Enontekiö have signed a letter of intent that enables the continuation of operations at Enontekiö Airport, said Finavia in a press release.

During the spring and summer 2020, Finavia and the Municipality of Enontekiö have held frequent negotiations on the future of Enontekiö Airport. The negotiations have been held in a positive spirit and the different alternatives have now been discussed. The outcome of the negotiations is that the newly signed letters of intent represents an agreement on a business transfer concerning Enontekiö Airport.

The parties also agreed on continuing the preparations for measures related to the restructuring of the airport’s operating relationships and the financing of Enontekiö Airport’s runway repaving project.

“We are very satisfied that a solution for the future of Enontekiö Airport is being found in the form of a new operator for the airport. This solution enables the continuation of air traffic in the future,” said Finavia Airport Networks Director and Senior Vice President Jani Jolkkonen.

The forthcoming transaction will see the maintenance of Enontekiö Airport, the provision of air traffic passenger services, the maintenance of the airport area, the commercial operations at the airport and the development of the airport transferred to the Municipality of Enontekiö.

Finavia will not make any further investments in Enontekiö Airport. Finavia will, however, carry out the airport’s runway repaving contract in August–September 2020. The Municipality of Enontekiö will be responsible for the costs of the runway repaving project.

“From the municipality’s perspective, this agreement means that Enontekiö will continue to be accessible by air in the years to come. Tour operators can use the airport next winter and in future winters. We are very pleased that the negotiations produced a mutually agreeable outcome that supports the development of the accessibility of the Fell Lapland sub-region. This will serve the appeal, regional economy and tourism of Fell Lapland as a whole. I would like to thank all the organisations and people who contributed to this outcome,” said Municipal Manager Jari Rantapelkonen.

The final agreements pertaining to the arrangement are expected to be signed in October 2020. The newly signed agreements are subject to the approval of the parties’ decision-making bodies expected to be in August.