Ruth Haines
Svalbard Airport (LYR) is located 1.6 nautical miles northwest of Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on Svalbard. The airport was constructed on permafrost in the early 1970s and has a unique design, with an insulated runway and a hangar that is frozen into the ground. The airport has been served by various airlines over the years, including Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Braathens SAFE, offering flights to destinations such as Tromsø and Oslo. In recent years, the airport has faced challenges due to overcrowding and limited capacity, resulting in restrictions on the number of daily flights. Despite these challenges, Svalbard remains a popular destination for adventurous travellers attracted by its stunning glacier scenery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Svalbard Airport |
| Location | 1.6 nautical miles (3.0 km; 1.8 mi) northwest of Longyearbyen |
| Year of Construction | 1973 |
| Runway Length | 2,483 metres (8,146 ft) |
| Runway Alignment | 10/28 (roughly east–west) |
| Airlines | Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Braathens SAFE, SAS Braathens, Norwegian Air |
| Destinations | Tromsø, Oslo, Langnes, Gardermoen |
| Airport Code | LYR |
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What You'll Learn
Svalbard Airport's location and design
Svalbard Airport is located in Norway and is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled public flights. It is situated 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) northwest of Longyearbyen on the west coast, the largest settlement on Svalbard. The airport also serves the nearby Russian settlement of Barentsburg. Mainland Norway is part of the Schengen Area, but Svalbard is excluded; no passport control is carried out at the airport, although exit checks are performed in Oslo or Tromsø.
The airport is owned and operated by the state-owned company Avinor. Scandinavian Airlines operates daily flights to Tromsø and Oslo in mainland Norway, while Lufttransport provides services to the other airport on Svalbard: Ny-Ålesund, using Dornier 228 turboprop aircraft. There are also regular charter flights. In 2014, the airport handled 154,261 passengers.
The first airport near Longyearbyen was constructed during World War II and was first used for occasional flights in 1959, but it could only be used for a few months a year. Construction of the new airport at Hotellneset started in 1973, and the airport was opened on 2 September 1975. The runway is 2,483 metres (8,146 feet) long and aligned roughly east-west, equipped with an instrument landing system, but there are no taxiways. The runway is insulated against the ground to prevent melting during the summer, but it has been plagued by frost heaves due to incorrect construction methods, requiring regular re-asphalting.
The airport's small size has led to overcrowding and delays, particularly on busy days. In 2023, the airport operator announced a maximum of six flights per day to Longyearbyen, with departures better distributed throughout the day. This restriction may pose challenges for charter companies that often arrange flights at short notice. While investment is planned to improve the runway, there are no immediate plans to expand the airport's infrastructure.
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Airlines that fly to Svalbard Airport
Yes, there is an airport in Svalbard. The Svalbard Airport is located 1.6 nautical miles northwest of Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on Svalbard. The airport also serves the nearby Russian settlement of Barentsburg.
Svalbard Airport was first opened in 1973 following an understanding between Norway and the Soviet Union. Since then, several airlines have offered flights to the airport. Here are some of the airlines that currently or previously flew to Svalbard Airport:
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS): SAS provides handling services through SAS Ground Services. It offers several flights a week to Longyearbyen, with some flights being direct and others routed through Tromsø. In the peak season from March to August, the number of flights increases to several per day, with some direct options from Oslo.
- Norwegian Air Shuttle: Norwegian offers weekly flights to Longyearbyen from Oslo throughout the year. During the peak season, the frequency of flights increases. Norwegian also previously operated a service from Longyearbyen to Tromsø and Oslo using Boeing 737-300 and 737-800 aircraft, but these routes were terminated.
- Braathens SAFE: This airline previously operated flights to Svalbard in the late 1960s and re-entered the market in 1987, flying to Tromsø and Oslo. After SAS bought Braathens, the subsidiary took over all flights to Longyearbyen.
- Fred. Olsen Airtransport: This airline made its first flight to Svalbard in 1966.
- Widerøe: This airline has been mentioned as offering flights to Svalbard, but specific details are unavailable.
It is worth noting that due to the small size of the airport, there is a maximum limit of six flights per day to Longyearbyen, and identification checks for passenger arrivals are often conducted prior to departure in Oslo or Tromsø.
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History of flights to Svalbard
Svalbard Airport is located 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) northwest of Longyearbyen on the west coast of Svalbard, Norway. It is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled public flights. The airport also serves the nearby Russian settlement of Barentsburg.
The history of flights to Svalbard began with the construction of the first airstrip on the archipelago during World War II by the Luftwaffe. However, it was not until the early 1950s that the Norwegian Air Force started postal flights using a Catalina aircraft that departed from Tromsø and dropped parcels at Bear Island and Longyearbyen. On 9 February 1959, a Catalina aircraft made the first landing at the airstrip in Adventsdalen, marking the first successful flight to Svalbard. This flight was necessitated by a resident's serious illness, who needed to be flown to mainland Norway for treatment.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, various airlines, including Braathens SAFE, Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), and Fred. Olsen Airtransport, began operating flights to Svalbard. By 1972, 100 flights had been made to the archipelago. During this period, permanent lights were installed at the airport, and the first jet plane, a Dassault Falcon 20, landed in Adventsdalen. Aeroflot started flights to Adventsdalen in 1973 to serve the Russian community in Barentsburg.
In 1973, construction began on a new airport at Hotellneset, which opened on 2 September 1975. The airport at Hotellneset was built on permafrost, with the runway insulated against the ground to prevent melting during the summer. The hangar was frozen into the ground, with pillars melted and then frozen in place.
Today, Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian offer daily flights to Tromsø and Oslo, with the journey taking approximately 3 hours from Oslo and 1.5 hours from Tromsø. The airport has imposed a daily limit of six flights per day to Longyearbyen to manage overcrowding and maintain control over people and goods.
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The airport's runway and infrastructure
Svalbard Airport in Longyearbyen is the world's northernmost airport. It is located 1.6 nautical miles (3.0 km; 1.8 mi) northwest of Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on Svalbard. The airport also serves the nearby Russian settlement of Barentsburg. Mainland Norway is part of the Schengen Area, but Svalbard is excluded. No passport control is carried out at the airport, although exit checks are performed in Oslo or Tromsø.
The runway is 2,483 metres (8,146 ft) long and aligned 10/28 (roughly east–west). It is equipped with an instrument landing system, but there are no taxiways. The runway is 45 metres (148 ft) wide and has two culverts that allow water from the mountain Platåberget to drain under it. The runway was constructed on permafrost and is insulated against the ground so that it does not melt during the summer. However, due to climate change, the permafrost layer has started to melt, causing instability and subsidence affecting buildings and infrastructure and increasing the risk of landslides and avalanches. As a result, the runway must be checked meticulously every day during the summer months to ensure the safety of aircraft operations.
The airport's small size has led to challenges in handling the increasing number of charter flights and passengers. The terminal building has been overcrowded on the busiest days, and ground staff have struggled to cope with the demand. In response, the airport operator has restricted the number of flights allowed to land at the airport to six per day, with departures more spread out than in previous years.
The first airstrip on Svalbard was constructed in Adventdalen, near Longyearbyen, by the Luftwaffe during World War II. It was not used immediately after the war, and the archipelago was served by ships during the summer months, with complete isolation from November to May. In the early 1950s, the Norwegian Air Force started postal flights using a Catalina aircraft that departed from Tromsø and dropped postal parcels at Bear Island and Longyearbyen. The first night landing at the airport occurred on 8 December 1965, with a DC-4 taking off from Tromsø Airport and delivering mail to Bear Island before continuing to Longyearbyen. The runway was illuminated using paraffin lamps and lights from cars parked along the runway.
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Travel restrictions and controls at the airport
Svalbard Airport in Longyearbyen is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled public flights. It is located 3.1 miles (5 km) northwest of Longyearbyen on the west coast of Svalbard. The airport is owned and operated by the state-owned company Avinor.
Svalbard is part of the Kingdom of Norway but is outside the Schengen area and the European Economic Area (EEA) cooperation. This means that identity control is performed for all guests travelling to and from Svalbard, including Norwegians. All guests, both Norwegian and foreign citizens, must bring their passport or national ID card. No visa is required for EU passport holders. However, non-EU nationals should check the visa requirements for Norway or the Schengen area, as they will be transiting through Norway. Identification checks for passenger arrivals are often done prior to departure in Oslo or Tromsø.
The airport is small and can handle only one aircraft at a time. In 2022, the airport experienced an unprecedented increase in charter flights, causing overcrowding and delays. In 2023, the airport operator Avinor decided to limit the number of aircraft to six per day, with departures more spread out.
There are shuttle buses and taxis available at the airport for the short transfer to Longyearbyen or to hotels. Scandinavian Airlines provides handling services at the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is an airport in Svalbard. The airport is located 1.6 nautical miles northwest of Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on Svalbard.
The airport code for Svalbard Airport is LYR.
Norwegian Air and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) fly to Svalbard Airport.
The flight time from Oslo to Svalbard is approximately 3 hours, and from Tromsø is about 1.5 hours.
