Lakselv Airport, Banak

Lakselv Airport, Banak
Lakselv Airport, Banak
IATA: LKLICAO: ENNA
LKL
Location of airport in Finnmark
Summary
Airport type Joint (Civil and Military)
Operator Avinor
Serves Lakselv
Location Banak
Elevation AMSL 8 m / 25 ft
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
17/35 2,784 9,134 Asphalt, some concrete

Lakselv Airport, Banak (IATA: LKLICAO: ENNA) (Norwegian: Lakselv lufthavn, 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. It is marketed under the name North Cape Airport, even though North Cape is 180 km away, while Honningsvåg Airport, Valan is only 35 km from the cape. Lakselv Airport is owned and operated by Avinor, serving 56,954 passengers in 2009.

The airport has daily connections to Tromsø and Alta, operated by Widerøe, as well as international charter flights during the summer season. It is the northernmost airport in European mainland which has a runway long enough for jet aircraft such as Boeing 737. Station Group Banak operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force also operates at the airport.

Contents

History

Banak first saw use as an airport in 1938, when the military constructed a small gravel field diagonally on today's runway, about 11/29. The original runway is still partially visible in areas with little vegetation.

During World War II the German occupying forces expanded the airport, with hangars, workshops, hospitals in addition to defence positions. The buildings and installations were destroyed during the German retreat in 1944.

After the war the airport was taken over by the Air Force, but the runway's wooden surface was cannbalised because of material shortage during the first reconstruction period in Finnmark. By 1951 the runway was unusable, and the activities ceased temporarily.

Lakselv Airport opened again in 1963 along with the other two primary airports in Finnmark, Alta Airport and Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen. The airport was financed through NATO and in addition to a civilian airport was host to a military air station. The airport has since been expanded several times to meet military and civilian requirements.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines Destinations
BH Air Seasonal charter: Burgas
Widerøe Alta, Tromsø[1]
Norwegian Air Shuttle Oslo-Gardermoen

Accidents and incidents

References

External links