Alta Airport
Encyclopedia
Alta Airport is the airport of Alta, Norway
. It is located about 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of the town center of Alta, near the community Elvebakken on the southern shore of the Altafjord
. The airport has a single paved 2088 m (6,850 ft) runway. The government-owned Avinor
is responsible for operations. With 334,132 passengers served in 2009 it is the busiest airport in Finnmark
by passenger traffic.
The airport works as a semi-hub for operations in the SAS Group
with many connections to regional airports in Finnmark. It is served with Boeing 737
aircraft to Oslo
by Norwegian Air Shuttle
and Scandinavian Airlines, and by the latter to Tromsø
. Widerøe
operates many of its regional services through Alta. The airport can handle non-Schengen
flights in a designated section of the terminal building, although as of March 2010 no international flights to Alta Airport are yet in operation.
The airport was opened 3 May 1963, at the same time as Banak Airport
in Lakselv and Høybuktmoen Airport
in Kirkenes
. For many years the only airline to serve Alta was Scandinavian Airlines, which operated routes to Tromsø and Oslo. Originally the airplanes serving Alta were Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
propeller planes, while Douglas DC-9 jet aircraft were introduced in 1969, and McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft in 1986.
When the new regional
STOL
routes in Finnmark were opened in 1974, Alta was serviced by Widerøe's Twin Otter aircraft. In 1990, Scandinavian changed their operation procedures in Finnmark, making Alta a hub
with flights from other towns into Alta and flights to Oslo by jet aircraft. The spike routes were operated with 50 seat Fokker 50 aircraft by SAS Commuter
.
In 2002, after Scandinavian acquired Braathens
, Braathens took over Scandinavian's routes. The two airlines were merged in 2005. In 2003, Widerøe took over SAS Commuter's routes from Alta. Norwegian Air Shuttle operates low-cost
flights to its hub at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
.
The authorization for the old terminal at Alta Airport expired in 2008. The planes parked too close to the runway
according to the newer safety regulations. The new, much larger terminal opened on 25 September 2009.
provides shuttle bus
service to Alta, with schedule coordinated with arrivals. Taxis are also available.
Alta, Norway
-Birdlife:For those interested in bird watching, the river outlet, known locally as Altaosen is well worth a visit. This tidal area is used as a stopover for many wetland species.-Transportation:...
. It is located about 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of the town center of Alta, near the community Elvebakken on the southern shore of the Altafjord
Altafjord
Altafjord is a fjord in the municipality Alta in Finnmark county, Norway, and is about 38 kilometres long. In the inner southern part of the fjord, near the town of Alta, is the outlet of the 200 kilometre long river Altaelva...
. The airport has a single paved 2088 m (6,850 ft) runway. The government-owned Avinor
Avinor
Avinor AS is a state owned limited company in that operates most of the civil airports in Norway. The Norwegian state, via the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications controls 100 percent of the share capital. Avinor was created on 1 January 2003, by the privatization of the...
is responsible for operations. With 334,132 passengers served in 2009 it is the busiest airport in Finnmark
Finnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
by passenger traffic.
The airport works as a semi-hub for operations in the SAS Group
SAS Group
Scandinavian Airlines System Aktiebolag , trading as SAS Group and SAS AB, is a holding company based in Solna, Sweden. It is the parent company of the airlines Scandinavian Airlines, Blue1 and Widerøe, and the aviation services companies SAS Business Opportunities, SAS Cargo Group, SAS Ground...
with many connections to regional airports in Finnmark. It is served with Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
aircraft to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
by Norwegian Air Shuttle
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA , trading as Norwegian, is the second-largest airline in Scandinavia. In 2010, it transported 13.0 million people. As of October 2011, Norwegian operates a total fleet of 62 aircraft; 17 Boeing 737-300s and 45 Boeing 737-800s...
and Scandinavian Airlines, and by the latter to Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
. Widerøe
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
operates many of its regional services through Alta. The airport can handle non-Schengen
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...
flights in a designated section of the terminal building, although as of March 2010 no international flights to Alta Airport are yet in operation.
History
Lakselv Airport, Banak
Lakselv Airport, Banak is located 1,5 km from the town of Lakselv in the municipality of Porsanger in Finnmark county, in northern Norway. The airport also serves Karasjok, some 74 km to the south, with a corresponding airport coach six days a week...
in Lakselv and Høybuktmoen Airport
Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen
Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen is the airport serving Kirkenes in eastern Finnmark, Norway. Høybuktmoen is located west of Kirkenes, at the base of a peninsula jutting into Varangerfjord...
in Kirkenes
Kirkenes
is a town in the municipality of Sør-Varanger in the county of Finnmark in the far northeast of Norway...
. For many years the only airline to serve Alta was Scandinavian Airlines, which operated routes to Tromsø and Oslo. Originally the airplanes serving Alta were Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Convair 240
The Convair CV-240 was an American airliner produced by Convair from 1947 to 1954, initially as a possible replacement of the ubiquitous Douglas DC-3. While featuring a more modern design, the 240 series was able to make some inroads as a commercial airliner and also had a long development cycle...
propeller planes, while Douglas DC-9 jet aircraft were introduced in 1969, and McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft in 1986.
When the new regional
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
STOL
STOL
STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
routes in Finnmark were opened in 1974, Alta was serviced by Widerøe's Twin Otter aircraft. In 1990, Scandinavian changed their operation procedures in Finnmark, making Alta a hub
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
with flights from other towns into Alta and flights to Oslo by jet aircraft. The spike routes were operated with 50 seat Fokker 50 aircraft by SAS Commuter
SAS Commuter
SAS Commuter, later branded Scandinavian Commuter was a regional airline created by Scandinavian Airlines parent companies Det Norske Luftfartsselskap, Det Danske Luftfartsselskap og Aerotransport on December 1, 1988. It was merged with the new airlines Scandinavian Airlines Denmark, Scandinavian...
.
In 2002, after Scandinavian acquired Braathens
Braathens
Braathens ASA, until 1997 Braathens South American & Far East Airtransport A/S and trading as Braathens SAFE, is a former Norwegian airline that operated from 1946 until it merged with Scandinavian Airlines Norway to become SAS Braathens in 2004. The airline was based in Oslo, first at Fornebu,...
, Braathens took over Scandinavian's routes. The two airlines were merged in 2005. In 2003, Widerøe took over SAS Commuter's routes from Alta. Norwegian Air Shuttle operates low-cost
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
flights to its hub at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen is the principal airport serving Oslo, Norway. It acts as the main domestic hub and international airport for Norway, and the second-busiest airport in the Nordic countries. A hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle, and a focus city for Widerøe, it is...
.
The authorization for the old terminal at Alta Airport expired in 2008. The planes parked too close to the runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
according to the newer safety regulations. The new, much larger terminal opened on 25 September 2009.
Airlines and destinations
Ground transportation
VeoliaVeolia Transport Norway
Veolia Transport Norway is the Norwegian subsidiary of Veolia Transport, part of Veolia Corporation and operates through its subsidiaries buses, ferries and trams in the counties of Akershus, Finnmark, Nordland, Rogaland and Sør-Trøndelag, primarily through the purchase of former monopolists. The...
provides shuttle bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
service to Alta, with schedule coordinated with arrivals. Taxis are also available.