Exploring Aviation Operations In The Arctic: The Svalbard Airport

Svalbard Airport, Longyear, (LYR) is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled public flights. It is located on the west coast of Norway, 5km (3.1 mi) northwest of Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost settlement with a population of over 1,000 people. The airport is owned and operated by state-owned Avinor and has a small terminal building with limited facilities, including a snack bar, two shops, and free WiFi. The runway is 2,483 metres (8,146 ft) long and is equipped with an instrument landing system, but there are no taxiways. Various airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Svalbard, with a daily limit of six flights imposed in 2023 due to overcrowding.

Svalbard Airport's runway

Svalbard Airport, also known as Svalbard Lufthavn, is located 5km northwest of Longyearbyen on the west coast of Norway. It is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled public flights. The airport is owned and operated by state-owned Avinor.

The airport has one runway, which is 2,483 metres long and 45 metres wide. It is aligned 10/28 (roughly east-west) and is equipped with an instrument landing system. The runway is insulated against the ground to prevent it from melting during the summer. To further protect against the effects of frost heaves, the runway is constructed with a layer of frost-stable fill, varying from 1 to 4 metres in thickness, to hinder the soil from unfreezing. This unique engineering challenge was due to the airport being built on permafrost.

The first landing at the airport was made on 14 September 1974, by a Fokker F-28. The first night landing was made on 8 December 1965, by a DC-4 that took off from Tromsø Airport and delivered mail to Bear Island before continuing to Longyearbyen. The runway was lit using paraffin lamps and lights from cars parked along the runway.

Today, Scandinavian Airlines operates daily flights to Tromsø and Oslo, while Lufttransport provides services to the other airport on Svalbard: Ny-Ålesund, using Dornier 228 turboprop aircraft. There are also regular charter flights.

Airlines operating at Svalbard Airport

Svalbard Airport (IATA: LYR, ICAO: ENSB) is the most northerly airport in the world with scheduled public flights. The airport is located 3.1 miles northwest of Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on Svalbard, and serves the Svalbard Islands and mainland Norway.

The airport has a small terminal with limited facilities, including a snack bar, a food kiosk, two shops, and free Wi-Fi. There are no hotels at the airport, but several are within a 10-15 minute driving distance.

The runway is 2,483 metres long and is equipped with an instrument landing system. It is constructed on permafrost and is insulated against the ground to prevent melting during the summer. The hangar is also frozen into the ground, with pillars that were melted into place.

Several airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Svalbard Airport. Lufttransport has a base at the airport and operates several weekly trips to Ny-Ålesund Airport, Hamnerabben, on behalf of Kings Bay with research personnel. Lufttransport also provides services to the other airport on Svalbard, Ny-Ålesund, using Dornier 228 turboprop aircraft. In 2009, Lufttransport's routes to Ny-Ålesund and the former Svea airport involved transporting 21,000 passengers and 500 tonnes of cargo per year. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) operates daily flights to Tromsø and Oslo in mainland Norway and provides handling services through SAS Ground Services. Norwegian Air Shuttle also operates flights from Svalbard Airport, with the two airlines accounting for all departures from the airport.

History of Svalbard Airport

The history of Svalbard Airport can be traced back to World War II, when the first airport near Longyearbyen was constructed. However, it wasn't until 1959 that this airport was first used for occasional flights, and even then, it could only be used for a few months a year.

In the 1965–66 season, Braathens SAFE made 16 flights to Svalbard. The following two seasons, a contract was awarded to Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), but after that, the contract reverted to Braathens SAFE. By 1969, a total of 50 flights had been made to Svalbard, and by 1972, the 100th was made.

Construction of the new airport at Hotellneset started in 1973, and the first landing there was made on 14 September 1974 by a Fokker F-28. The airport was officially opened on 2 September 1975.

Over the years, various airlines have operated at Svalbard Airport, including Lufttransport, which has been present since 1976, and Scandinavian Airlines, which operates daily flights to Tromsø and Oslo in mainland Norway. The airport has also seen the introduction of different aircraft types, such as the Boeing 737-200C, which was first used in 1974, and the Dornier 228 turboprop aircraft, which Lufttransport began using in 1994.

Today, Svalbard Airport continues to serve as the main airport for Svalbard, offering scheduled public flights and charter flights to destinations within Norway and beyond.

Facilities at Svalbard Airport

Svalbard Airport is a small regional airport that provides essential services for travellers to and from Svalbard. The airport is located 5km (3.1 miles) northwest of Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on Svalbard, and is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled public flights.

The airport has a small terminal with limited facilities, including a snack bar, a food kiosk, and two shops. There are also cafes and restaurants both before and after security checkpoints. Free WiFi is available for four-hour sessions, and power outlets are available throughout the airport for charging electronic devices. The airport hours are 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and there are no dedicated sleeping areas or rest zones. While there are no hotels at the airport, accommodation options are available within a 10-15 minute driving distance.

Transportation to and from the airport is convenient, with an airport bus available for all departures and arrivals, as well as taxis, rental cars, and airport coaches. The airport bus fare is NOK 75 for a 15-minute ride to the city centre. Arctic Autorrent offers car rental services on-site, and metered taxis are readily available for hire.

Svalbard Airport has a long runway of 2,483 metres (8,146 ft) equipped with an instrument landing system. The runway is aligned roughly east-west and is built on permafrost, with insulation to prevent melting during the summer. The hangar is frozen into the ground, and the pillars are melted into place.

Transport to/from Svalbard Airport

Svalbard Airport is located 3 to 5 kilometres northwest of Longyearbyen, the main town in Svalbard, Norway. It is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled public flights.

There are a few transport options for getting to and from Svalbard Airport.

Bus

There is an airport bus available for all departures and arrivals, connecting passengers to the city centre with hotel stops along the way. The bus fare is NOK 75 for the 15-minute ride. The schedule is not regular as it varies depending on the flight times, so it is recommended to check the most up-to-date schedule on the Svalbard Buss og Taxi website.

Taxi

Metered taxis are readily available for hire in the ground transportation area outside the airport. A one-way journey between the airport and the city centre takes about five minutes and costs approximately NOK 200. It is recommended to call in advance and reserve a taxi.

Car

Arctic Autorrent offers car rental services on-site at the airport.

Other

Longyearbyen is a small town, so walking around downtown is also an option. During the Polar Summer, you can borrow bicycles at the Tourist Information Centre.

Frequently asked questions