Renovations at Oulu Airport will continue with the construction of a hotel next to the airport. The hotel will expand the airport area's range of services and increase the appeal of the Oulu region. For the project, private investors have established the company Kiinteistö Oy Oulunsalo lentoaseman hotelli (KOLH).
The hotel will be located on the right-hand side (when driving towards the airport) of Lentokentäntie. Between the hotel and terminal, there will be 300 metres of covered walkway that is likely to pass through the airport parking area.
"We are currently selecting the hotel operator", says Mikko Junttila, managing director of Kiinteistö Oy Oulunsalo. His estimate is that the operator and the construction company will be selected this year.
In the fastest scenario, the hotel construction will already begin in a year, which means that the hotel would be completed in 2017–2018.
About 50% of passengers at Oulu Airport, renovated a year ago, are business travellers, and the rest are recreational travellers; growth has been achieved in both passenger groups this year.
"After Helsinki Airport, Oulu Airport is the second busiest in Finland, and passenger volumes have increased particularly well in the last few years. This year, Oulu will already be close to the milestone of one million passengers. The hotel will provide new opportunities to those departing from Oulu early in the morning or arriving late in the evening, and will also serve other passengers", says Liisa Sallinen, airport manager.
Finnair and Norwegian fly from Oulu to Helsinki and back many times every day, which ensures good connections to the rest of the world. A total of 130 different destinations can be reached via Helsinki. Direct flights abroad from Oulu are provided by Norwegian to Tenerife and by Airlink to Tromsø, Norway, via Luleå, Sweden.
