Lapland airports are preparing for a 5-10% increase in passenger numbers this winter, with Finnish airport operator Finavia recruiting more seasonal workers and improving facilities to handle rising demand from international visitors.
The expected growth reflects continued interest in Lapland as a winter destination, with airlines planning to increase operations by 4-8%, according to Finavia’s forecast announced on Wednesday. The additional flights are expected to include direct international services and connections through Helsinki Airport.
The preparations cover four airports serving Finnish Lapland: Rovaniemi, Kittila, Ivalo and Kuusamo. Finavia has spent the year improving airport infrastructure, passenger services and staffing ahead of the winter tourism season, when demand for flights to the region rises.
The company opened 120 seasonal positions across the four airports in June, a 20% increase compared with 2025. The recruitment campaign attracted 460 applications, nearly 60% more than the previous year, indicating stronger interest in the available positions.
The new recruits will more than double Finavia’s workforce at the airports during the winter season. They include returning seasonal employees and people entering the aviation industry for the first time.
“We believe that tourism in Lapland will continue to grow, which is why we are developing our airports proactively,” said Henri Hansson, Finavia’s senior vice president for the airport network.
Managing the increase in flights is another priority, particularly at Rovaniemi and Kittila airports, where international tourism creates additional pressure on airport operations during busy periods.
Both airports introduced international slot coordination for the 2025-2026 winter season. Under the system, an independent coordinator allocates arrival and departure times to airlines based on available airport capacity.
Finavia said the arrangement helps spread flights more evenly throughout the day, reducing congestion and allowing airport teams to plan staffing and equipment needs more effectively.
“Slot coordination has worked well. It spreads air traffic more evenly over different hours of the day, which prevents air traffic congestion,” Hansson said.
Alongside operational changes, Finavia has completed infrastructure improvements intended to make airport journeys smoother during the winter rush.
At Rovaniemi Airport, a ground transport development project was completed in September, adding approximately 4,000 square metres of parking space for 130 cars. The work also reorganised areas used by taxis, buses and private vehicles to improve traffic flow outside the terminal.
Passenger check-in facilities have also been upgraded. Rovaniemi and Kittila airports have received replacement self-service check-in machines, which allow travellers to check in and print baggage labels without relying entirely on staffed counters. At Ivalo Airport, new self-service baggage drop machines are intended to reduce pressure on airport staff during peak periods.
Keeping flights punctual remains a central concern as passenger numbers and flight operations increase. Finavia’s operational data for 2023 to 2026 shows that punctuality at Lapland’s airports generally remained between 98% and 100%, including during periods of heavy snowfall and runway maintenance.
The company also reported that Rovaniemi Airport achieved better operational punctuality during the record-breaking 2025-2026 winter season than in the previous year, despite handling more passengers. Customer satisfaction levels were maintained during the same period, according to Finavia.
The coming winter will test whether the additional staffing, flight coordination measures and infrastructure improvements can accommodate further growth without compromising airport operations. For travellers flying to Lapland, the preparations are intended to support the larger number of visitors expected to arrive during the region’s busiest tourism season.
