Rovaniemi Airport Prepares for Winter Tourist Surge
Finavia will begin expansion works at Rovaniemi Airport in April 2025, aiming to complete them by November, just before the winter travel rush. The €3 million project will add nearly 1,000 square metres to the departure hall. This development is a response to increasing strain on terminal capacity during peak seasons, especially during the winter months when demand is at its highest, as Lapland experiences a steady increase in foreign visitors.
Passenger traffic at Rovaniemi Airport rose sharply in 2024, increasing by 30 percent compared to the previous year. Close to one million travellers used the airport, the majority of them coming from abroad. The spike in arrivals reflects the growing popularity of Lapland as a winter destination. However, this trend also exposes weaknesses in the existing airport layout, especially when managing the flow of high volumes of passengers in a limited space.
For years, Finavia has been investing in the development of airports in Lapland so that tourism in the Lapland region could grow and develop. During 2018–2020, we implemented a significant EUR 60 million investment programme at Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Ivalo airports.
The goal of Finavia's investment is to enhance operational efficiency and guarantee a more seamless travel experience during times of high demand. The terminal upgrade aims to reduce crowding, help passengers move through more smoothly, and speed things up at check-in and security. While the building is being developed, access routes outside will change for a while, but flights will continue as normal. The main goal is to keep things running smoothly now while preparing the airport for more passengers in the future.
More functional infrastructure will make winter travel through Rovaniemi less stressful and more reliable. Passengers connecting to remote Arctic areas or arriving for seasonal events will likely benefit from smoother processing and better service quality. The extension may also help reduce traffic-related delays by offering more frequent transitions between airport operations and subsequent travel throughout Finnish Lapland and surrounding areas.
The expansion marks a change in how Lapland is updating its infrastructure to keep up with growing tourism. By improving how the airport runs, authorities make sure travelers get steady service, even when it’s busy. In practical terms, this means shorter lines, less crowding, and more enjoyable arrivals and departures. In addition to being a transit hub, Rovaniemi will mark the beginning of a more seamless journey for travelers moving north.