Rovaniemi Airport’s departures hall has been expanded with new facilities, natural light, and improved ground traffic arrangements, enhancing passenger experience and supporting regional tourism.
Credit: Finavia
Finavia has completed the expansion of the departures hall at Rovaniemi Airport (RVN). The modernised area, opening on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, will serve departing passengers. The project represents an investment of EUR 3 million, bringing Finavia’s total investment in the development of Rovaniemi Airport in 2025 to approximately EUR 5.5 million.
“Over the years, Finavia has made significant investments in the development of Lapland’s airports. The expansion of the departures hall at Rovaniemi Airport, which started in April 2025, has now been completed fully on schedule and within the original budget. The completed expansion will improve the customer experience of departing passengers in particular, and with the introduction of the new facilities, I would like to warmly welcome all passengers to Rovaniemi Airport,” says Henri Hansson, Finavia’s Senior Vice President, Airport Network.
The decision to expand was driven by strong passenger growth at Rovaniemi Airport. In 2024, the airport recorded 948,000 passengers, almost 30 per cent more than the previous year. Rovaniemi has developed into a significant international airport, improving accessibility to the Lapland region. “Tourism demand in the Lapland region has grown strongly in recent years, and we want to support the high level of customer experience for tourists through our own operations. We are developing our airport network as a whole, and we believe that the growth of Rovaniemi’s air traffic has the potential to be reflected throughout the Lapland region,” Hansson adds.
The new departures hall expansion increases the terminal’s size by nearly 1,000 square metres and enhances the passenger experience. Large windows allow more natural light into the space, making it brighter and more open. Alongside the terminal expansion, the ground traffic areas in front of the airport are being renewed and reorganised. During the 2025–26 winter season, taxis, buses and private cars will each have clearly designated areas in front of the airport. These improvements aim to streamline and clarify traffic arrangements, with the full reorganisation to be completed during 2025 and 2026.
Sustainability and customer experience central to development
According to passenger surveys, customer satisfaction at Rovaniemi Airport has remained consistently high, reflecting long-term development of both infrastructure and services. Finavia works closely with companies based at the airport and with regional tourism operators. Each year, Finavia selects an Airport of the Year from its 20 airports, and Rovaniemi received the 2024 award in recognition of its performance.
Finavia has been implementing its climate programme for many years with notable success. Sustainable development and environmental responsibility were key factors in the 2025 expansion. During planning, an energy simulation required by the building permit optimised energy efficiency and reduced the building’s life cycle carbon footprint. This proactive approach enabled sustainable design choices early in the project. Finavia’s airport development strategy is increasingly data-driven, and environmental assessments are based on research data.
Investments in Lapland’s airports
Over the past decade, Finavia has invested more than EUR 100 million in the development of Lapland’s airports. During the Lapland development programme from 2018 to 2020, EUR 25 million was invested in Rovaniemi Airport alone, funding terminal expansion, improved passenger services and upgraded operational facilities.
In addition to major development projects, Finavia continues the normal life cycle management of airport infrastructure, including runway maintenance and equipment renewal. Beyond the departures hall project, Finavia invested about EUR 1.3 million in 2025 in the renewal of ground traffic arrangements in front of the airport, with work continuing in 2026. A further EUR 1.2 million was directed to airside operations, such as upgrading the runway lighting system and remote de-icing station. Altogether, these works bring total investments in 2025 to approximately EUR 5.5 million.
Finavia has also advanced environmental responsibility across its airports. At Rovaniemi, sustainable solutions have been introduced in terminal heating and lighting systems and in the fuels used for airport operations. As a result, Rovaniemi and Finavia’s other Lapland airports achieved net zero carbon emissions in 2024. They also hold Visit Finland’s Sustainable Travel Finland certificate, demonstrating a long-term commitment to responsible and environmentally conscious airport operations.
