AVINOR TO INVEST NOK3.3 BILLION ON OSLO AIRPORT EXPANSION PROJECT

Norwegian airport operator, Avinor, has set aside NOK3.3 billion to expand the area after the passport control at Oslo Airport. 

It believes that the upgrade will "provide a significantly better service to people travelling to and from countries outside the Schengen Area".

Construction work starts in early October this year and the expansion will be completed in the second quarter of 2022.  

"This expansion is important for developing Oslo Airport as an international hub," explains Avinor CEO, Dag Falk-Petersen.

"It will provide increased capacity and improve conditions for our passengers and airlines, as well as improving the framework conditions for Norwegian travel, tourism and business – which is an important part of Avinors strategy."

Read also - All news of the day

Important for Norway

The current capacity of the area for traffic outside of the Schengen Area is 5.5 million passengers per year, and following the expansion it will be approximately 8 million.

Falk-Peterson says: "In recent years, traffic to and from countries outside of the Schengen Area has experienced considerably greater growth than traffic within it. It is absolutely essential that we facilitate this traffic by building good and suitable infrastructure. 

"It will increase Norway’s competitiveness and provide considerable economic benefits."

Read also - All news of the day

Construction starts in October

The work on the expansion will start on Monday, October 1st and disruption to travellers will be kept to a minimum.

"After six years of building the new Oslo Airport, we have learned a great deal about how to simultaneously build and operate an airport," comments Oslo Airport director,  Øyvind Hasaas.

"The knowledge we have gained will be applied to this expansion project. We should be able to achieve this without there being any noticeable impact on travellers."

Read also - All news of the day

Wanting a top European airport

There will be a total of 14 aircraft parking spaces, four of which will be flexible gates that can handle traffic from areas both inside and outside the Schengen Area.

The extension will provide a total area of 39,700 square metres for travellers to countries outside the Schengen Area.

"The current area will be extended, with new aircraft parking spaces that are suitable for larger planes as well as new commercial areas. In total, this will give us the capacity necessary to be a top European airport for travellers, airlines and other partners," adds Hasaas.

The expansion also includes adaptations for US Preclearance, but a prerequisite for realising such a solution is a binding participation from relevant airlines and a bilateral agreement between the United States and Norway.