“This summer, we will be resurfacing the runway at Kuusamo Airport. For this reason, there will be no flights to or from the airport for three weeks. We have chosen this time for the asphalt work so that it will have smallest impact possible on air traffic. We apologise to passengers and airlines for any inconvenience,” says Jani Jolkkonen, Finavia’s Senior Vice President responsible for the business operations of the regional airports.
The renovation work means the runway will close on Monday 12 August. The new and improved runway will be opened to traffic on Saturday 31 August.
Bus transport schedules 12–30 August 2019
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays:
| Flight AY534 | Kuusamo Airport 10.00 a.m. | Rovaniemi Airport 12.30 p.m. |
| Flight AY533 | Rovaniemi Airport 2 p.m. | Kuusamo Airport 4.30 p.m. |
Tuesdays and Thursdays:
| Flight AY536 | Kuusamo Airport 2.15 p.m. | Rovaniemi Airport 4.45 p.m. |
| Flight AY535 | Rovaniemi Airport 6.15 p.m. | Kuusamo Airport 8.45 p.m. |
Saturdays and Sundays:
| Flight AY534 | Kuusamo Airport 10.00 a.m. | Rovaniemi Airport 12.30 p.m. |
| Flight AY533 | Rovaniemi Airport 2.00 p.m. | Kuusamo Airport 4.30 p.m. |
| Flight AY536 | Kuusamo Airport 2.15 p.m. | Rovaniemi Airport 4.45 p.m. |
| Flight AY535 | Rovaniemi Airport 6.15 p.m. | Kuusamo Airport 8.45 p.m. |
The bus service between the Kuusamo and Rovaniemi airports is free of charge. If you would like the bus to drive via Ruka or Kuusamon Tropiikki, please make a reservation one day before at [email protected].
The resurfacing of the runway at Kuusamo Airport is part of yearly maintenance
At Finavia’s airports, the runways are, on average, 2.5 kilometres long and 45–60 metres wide. The runway at Kuusamo Airport falls under this average neatly. It is 2.5 kilometres long and 45 metres wide.
The maintenance of the runway requires a great deal of know-how and substantial investment. Jolkkonen says that the resurfacing in August is needed to repair winter damage. A complete modernisation of the runway is in the planning stage. It will take place in a few years.
The cost of the Kuusamo runway resurfacing to be carried out in August is nearly EUR one million. The modernisation of the runway is a larger investment of about EUR 10–15 million.
Asphalt or concrete for the surface of the runway?
Finavia’s Technical Director Henri Hansson reports that all the company’s runways are surfaced with asphalt. An alternative surfacing material would be concrete, but this material does not withstand the Finnish winter equally well.
“Beneath the runway there are supporting structures that, together with the pavement, are designed to withstand the load of the aircraft,” says Hansson.
In addition to having the needed carrying capacity, the runway surface has to be smooth but built in such a way that water drains off. Furthermore, there must be sufficient friction. The flanks and ends of the runway need to be smooth and supporting, and there needs to be a safety zone at both ends.
In addition to maintenance and modernisation, airports are constantly being improved. At the moment, Finavia is expanding the airports at Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Ivalo in northern Finland.
“Our aim is to improve the customer experience and raise our service level and capacity to meet the needs of growth in tourism in Lapland. The investment has a value of about EUR 55 million. It will support the growth of tourism in Lapland and promote the accessibility and competitiveness of Finland. Overall, the investments Finavia is making in tourism in Lapland will rise to almost EUR 100 million,” says Jani Jolkkonen.
Brief history of Kuusamo airport
| 1972 | The first airport building with air traffic control facilities is opened. Scheduled flights between Oulu and Kuusamo begin. |
| 1974 | The airport runway is extended from 800 metres to 1 500 metres. |
| 1977 | The new air traffic control tower is completed. |
| 1988 | The new passenger terminal is opened. |
| 1989 |
The runway is extended to 2000 metres. Jet traffic begins. |
| 1997 | The runway is further extended to 2500 metres. |
| 1998 |
The passenger terminal extension is completed. |
| 2009 |
The passenger terminal extension and renovation are completed. |
