"It’s meaningful to be part of the airport’s history right now, as we celebrate the 50th year of operation. This milestone is a testament to what an important role the airport has played in the area’s vitality, tourism and building of connections," says Jonna Pietilä, Kittilä Airport Manager and Vice President, Lapland Airports at Finavia.
The most beautiful forest airfield in the nation
In the Kittilä area, the idea of an airport arose in 1974 when Metsähallitus began building a forest airfield for forestry flights. The air field was completed the following year, and its use expanded rapidly from the original plan. The air field was used for general aviation, rescue services and tourism, which was only developing in the Lapland region at the time. The first aircraft landed on the runway paved with gravel on 20 September 1975.
Discussions on the need for an official airport began soon in the area. For this reason, operators started the planning work for a terminal and an improved runway. The construction work began in 1976 as cooperation between the Ministry of Labour, the National Board of Public Roads and Waterways and the municipality of Kittilä. The growth of tourism in Lapland in the 1970s created pressure for better transport links. On the other hand, the operations of the Lapland Air Command also contributed to the decision to build an airport. The project was expedited by local activity — Aarne Nikka, the Mayor of Kittilä at the time, purposefully promoted establishing an airport in the municipality.
Kittilä Airport was opened to traffic on 11 September 1979. The airport was initially operated by the Ministry of Defence, and the main users of the airport were the Lapland Air Command and general aviators. However, the airport was also used for civil aviation from the beginning. The airport developed rapidly in the 1980s. The first terminal building and air traffic control tower were completed in 1982, and the runway was extended to 2,500 metres at the end of the decade.
Flight connections to Kittilä start to develop
Ownership of Kittilä Airport was transferred to the National Board of Aviation, now Finavia, in 1982. Thanks to active negotiations between tourism entrepreneurs and the municipality, a scheduled flight experiment between Oulu and Kittilä was launched in 1983. After a few years of experimentation, scheduled flights were established to be operated around the year in 1987. The following year, charter flights operated using jet aircraft directly from Helsinki to Kittilä began, and the number of passengers grew rapidly.
Photo: Photographer Matti Wikman, 1975–1989
In March 1993, the first charter flight in the airport's history arrived in Kittilä from Paris. In December of the same year, the airport also received the first charter flight from the United Kingdom during the Christmas season, which kicked off the strong growth of international traffic during the winter season. The terminal was expanded several times in the 1990s and facilities were developed specifically for international passengers — including VIP facilities, meeting and sauna facilities and baggage handling areas. At the end of the decade, a significant milestone was reached when the airport’s annual number of passengers exceeded 100,000.
Opening the rebuilt terminal as winter tourism in Lapland increases
In the summer of 2006, part of the terminal was destroyed by a fire that started on the roof of the building. After the fire, the airport was closed for only three days, as operations were transferred to the preserved parts of the terminal. Reconstruction of the airport began shortly after the fire, and the renovated terminal was opened in 2008.
In the 2010s, tourism in Lapland grew very strongly. Finavia responded to this phenomenon by launching a development programme for its airports in Lapland for 2018–2020. The aim of the programme was to support the growth of tourism and improve Finland’s connectivity. In Kittilä, the departures hall was expanded, the number of aircraft parking stands was increased and two new taxiways were built to make air traffic smoother. Later, Finavia made an additional investment in Kittilä Airport to improve baggage handling and check-in facilities.
Winter magic and year-round experiences
Kittilä Airport particularly serves tourism in Lapland, which is the principal industry of the municipalities in the region. The customers of the most important holiday resorts also make up a large proportion of the airport’s customers. Traffic to Kittilä is busy especially in the winter, as the airport has excellent transport links to many important holiday destinations in Lapland. The majority of the year's total passengers pass through the airport during the seven winter and spring months. This seasonality is also reflected in the number of employees: the number of airport employees increases from about 20 to over a hundred during the winter season.
Photo: Photographer Matti Wikman, 1975–1989
Finavia’s goal is to strengthen flight connections in Lapland also outside the winter season, and Kittilä Airport is an important part of this development. The aim is to increase the attractiveness of summer tourism by promoting international awareness of Finland. Even though winter is still the main attraction in the north, Kittilä can be reached all year round from Central Europe — foreign tourists are increasingly interested in visiting Lapland in the summer. Extensive flight connections are a key part of international connectivity, and they allow Kittilä to serve tourists in a more diverse way — both in the summer and in the winter.
"Seasonality, especially during the winter season, brings its own challenges and opportunities — but that’s what makes the airport unique. We emphasise the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, a strong cooperation network and the ability to provide customer-oriented service, even in a rush. In addition, nature is present — from the moment you arrive."
Pietilä describes the airport she manages as functional, sustainable and welcoming. The personnel of the airport do work every day to ensure smooth travel and actively develop the airport’s operations.
"I would like to warmly thank all of you — you are doing valuable work that passengers can see and feel every day. Your professional expertise, flexibility and commitment are the reasons why Kittilä Airport is known for its high-quality service and smooth operations. Thank you for being part of this story — and its future."
Pietilä warmly welcomes passengers to Kittilä and Lapland. The winter season in Lapland is just beginning, and the entire airport community is involved in creating great and memorable tourism in Lapland.
Finavia will celebrate the 50-year history of Kittilä Airport by offering coffee and cake at the airport on 29 September 2025 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The celebrations also include a photo exhibition and presenting the maintenance equipment.
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