Northern Norway’s Skyward Surge: International Flights and Tourism on the Rise | The Avinor Group

Growing Popularity of Northern Norway

“It’s extremely gratifying to see that more and more people are discovering Northern Norway as an exciting travel destination,” says Minister of Transport, Jon-Ivar Nygård. “Many forces across the region have worked together to create appealing tourism products and experiences for all visitors. Thanks to the collaboration between local tourism actors, Avinor, and the airlines, several direct routes to Tromsø, Bodø, Evenes, and Alta have been established from various European cities. This is a real boon for the entire region’s tourism industry.”

Tromsø: A Winter Wonderland

Tromsø Airport Langnes has been at the heart of the impressive growth in international traffic to Northern Norway. Monthly statistics show a substantial increase in passengers to and from abroad, especially during winter. For instance, the number of passengers in November and December 2023 saw an incredible rise of 74% and 82%, respectively, compared to the same months in 2019. This underscores the increasing allure of Troms and Finnmark, and Northern Norway as an international destination.

A Historic Bloom for Northern Norway

In addition to the rising traffic figures at Tromsø Airport Langnes, new direct routes to other airports in Northern Norway, like Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, and Alta Airport, have been opened. Abraham Foss, the CEO, comments on the upturn, highlighting the teamwork behind this success: “The remarkable growth in international traffic to Northern Norway is the result of close cooperation between Avinor, local tourism actors, and airlines. Not to mention the tourism industry’s ability to create attractive offers and services for foreign tourists. We are proud to have contributed to promoting Northern Norway as an attractive destination for international travelers. This development has opened up fantastic opportunities for the region, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen accessibility and the tourism industry in Northern Norway.”

Wild, Beautiful, and Exciting

Aase Marthe Horrigmo, Director of Tourism at Innovation Norway, shares her enthusiasm for the growing interest in Northern Norway: “Northern Norway, especially Troms and Finnmark and Lofoten, has long been on the radar of foreign tourists. We’re pleased to see the interest increase and more people discovering other cities and places in Northern Norway. Northern Norway has so much to offer – wild, beautiful, and exciting experiences, whether you’re seeking an adrenaline rush, interested in art, culture, and history, or looking for peace and quiet.”

Horrigmo also highlights the unique attractions in Northern Norway, like the Northern Lights, Bodø as the European Capital of Culture in 2024, world-class seafood, spectacular mountain views, whale watching, and the opportunity to experience the midnight sun. She emphasizes the importance of increased accessibility and points out the new direct route from Frankfurt to Alta as an exciting opportunity to attract international tourists.

On Tuesday, January 16th, a new direct route was announced between Alta and Frankfurt with Lufthansa, scheduled to open in December 2024. This marks the first dedicated route for international tourism into Alta, heralding a new travel adventure for the entire Finnmark region. “The establishment of this direct route with Discover Airlines is a major milestone for the tourism industry in the Alta region, and for the entire local community,” asserts Katja Pettersen, Tourism Chief at Visit Alta. “Accessibility has always been a major challenge and barrier to further development in our industry, but this new route is a game-changer. Discover Airlines brings Europe closer to Alta, and Alta closer to the wider world,” she exclaims with enthusiasm.

Table: Overview of New and Existing Direct Routes from Abroad to Northern Norway