During the summer 2024 renovation, the asphalting of the runway was redone, the taxiways were widened and resurfaced, and the airport lighting system was modernised.
The summer 2024 renovation project at Kuopio Airport employed about 80 people in the local area, and several local companies were involved in its implementation. Finavia’s environmental, electrical and earthworks experts were involved in the planning of the project. In addition, planning work was carried out in close cooperation with the companies and authorities operating at Kuopio Airport.
During the summer 2023 renovation, the taxiways and areas surrounding the runway were made wider. Also, preliminary work for the renewal of the electricity systems in 2024 was done.
The renovation during summer 2022 included the renewal of the lighting system and the Instrument landing System.
Finavia’s environmental goals guide the planning and implementation
Kuopio Airport is surrounded by water, which is why the approach lighting line used by aircraft is built in water. As part of the summer 2024 renovation, both the approach lighting line and the associated support structures were replaced according to a detailed plan. The condition of the body of water was monitored throughout the project by flying drones, among other things. With the help of a drone flying high up in the air, it has been possible to monitor that the currents do not move the soil in the renovation area in the lake away from the areas limited by filter nets.
A filter net was used during the renovation to make sure that the currents don´t move the soil away from the renovation area.
The lighting system and electric power system of the entire airport area were also replaced as part of the renovation. The light fixtures of the runway and taxiways were replaced with energy-efficient LED technology, which contributes to Finavia’s sustainability goals. During the entire three-year renovation project, up to 12.5 kilometres of new routes were dug for the cables of the lighting systems in order to implement the modern solutions throughout the airport area.
To ensure the safety of operations, airports must deice aircraft in winter and prevent the runway from becoming slippery. Water management is an important part of Finavia’s environmental work, and it ensures that airport operations do not burden the surrounding nature. During the summer of 2024, the stormwater sewer network was also renovated to improve the efficiency of stormwater management in the airport area and reduce the environmental impacts of airport operations.
All Finavia airports have been carbon neutral since 2019. Lapland airports were the first to achieve net zero carbon emissions in their own operations in 2023. As our climate programme progresses, all Finavia airports will reach net zero by the end of 2025. Finavia is at the forefront of the airport industry in making its operations zero-emission and enabling sustainable operations for the users of its airports. Finavia’s goal for the future is to achieve carbon-negative operations at all of its airports.
Go to Kuopio Airport´s web page
Read more about Finavia´s investments to its airports