[In this new series of articles, Marnix (Max) Groot, Managing Editor of the Momberger Airport Information* newsletter, will take you on a tour around the world to see which new airport projects are ongoing and being planned. This first report on Northern Europe is in two parts: Greenland, Iceland, and Norway in Part 1, and Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Baltic States in Part 2.**]

While Northern Europe is associated with a strong environmental stance—Sweden is the official birthplace of flight shaming—the region’s relative geographic isolation and internal distances in countries like Norway make air travel an indispensable part of life. And from the article below you will see that plenty is going on in the Nordics. Let’s have a look!

Greenland (Part of the Kingdom of Denmark)

The international airports at Nuuk and Ilulissat, currently under construction, will each feature a 2,200-meter runway, a passenger terminal with associated apron and taxiways, a new control tower, car parking, and support facilities. Both airports are scheduled to open in late 2024, although Ilulissat’s opening will likely slip to 2025.

The smaller regional airport at Qaqortoq will feature a new terminal, ATC tower, and a 1,500-meter runway, which can be extended up to 1,800 meters in the future. The terminal will have an area of 2,000 square meters. Qaqortoq Airport will be operational in fall 2025.

Iceland

The bankruptcy of WOW Air in early 2019 temporarily put a break on the growth ambitions of Keflavík International Airport (KEF), the country’s main gateway, but the airport is back on track. In 2023, KEF handled 7.8 million passengers, still some way off its all-time high of 9.8 million passengers in 2018. Airport operator, Isavia, has forecast 8.5 million passengers this year.

The airport is planning to increase capacity to 13 million annual passengers by 2035 and 15 million annual passengers by 2045. Not bad for a country with 375,000 inhabitants!

In late 2024, the airport will open its new 23,000 square meter East Wing and within the next 10 years, Keflavik will enlarge further. Its passenger terminal will include a new 70,000 square meter boarding concourse called East Pier, as well as a 30,000 square meter expansion of the main processor building called the North Terminal.

Between 2035 and 2045, the airport plans to expand the passenger terminal again, and could even could build a third runway. Other developments include the construction of a high-speed rail link and the possibility of an airport city called K64. The plan proposes an eco-industrial park, enhanced airport facilities, and diverse commercial and residential clusters to create a comprehensive economic and social hub.

Norway

With 25 million passengers in 2023 (28 million in 2019), Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport (OSL) is considering adding a third runway in the near future. The Norwegian government is now studying the feasibility and necessity of the project. Results will be presented in the summer of 2024 but the expectation is that the project will get a go-ahead.

The city of Bodø is replacing the existing airport with a US$720 million greenfield airport to create more economic headroom for the city to grow. Facilities will include a single runway of 2,750 meters, a passenger terminal with six boarding bridges, and an annual capacity of 2.3 million travelers. The airport is scheduled to be opened sometime between 2029 and 2030.

In the far north of Norway, the city of Mo I Rana is also building a new airport to replace the existing one. The gateway will boast a runway of 2,400 meters and a passenger terminal of 6,000 square meters. The US$360 million project is currently under construction and will be finalized by the spring 2027.

* Momberger Airport Information is a bi-weekly, executive newsletter providing market intelligence on global airport development. Founded in 1973, it is the world’s oldest independent airport publication. You can sign up for a two-month free trial here. Write IR Trial in the instruction window to be eligible for a 20% discount when you become a paid subscriber.

** The second part of this article, covering Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Baltic States, will be published on AirportIR on April 3rd.