Kuusamo Airport (KAO/EFKS)
New routes and frequency possibilities and why these routes would work
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The bosom of nature (Syöte national park featured)...more than 200 days of annual skiing...totally reliable year-round airport access and a brand-new family friendly air terminal.
Finavia’s northernmost airports form a network of six modern, year-round open and tourism-friendly access points to one of Europe’s most unique destinations at the Arctic Circle – Lapland. The six airports form a unified business and marketing concept – Lapland Airports. With a dense airport network we can promise: The North is Near.
In 2009, Lapland Airports had 900,000 passengers of which 360,0000 which were international passengers (MIDT and Finavia charter statistics 2009). The high season for international travellers is from December to March. The main international markets for Lapland Airports are UK (43%), France (13%) and Germany (10%). Major investments in infrastructure to the tourism centres in Lapland now provide a high potential for new airlines and tour operators to make profitable business.
Lapland region and Finavia are committed to creating incentives and marketing programmes to increase international passenger volumes to Lapland Airports (Ivalo, Enontekiö, Kittilä, Rovaniemi, Kuusamo and Kemi-Tornio).
| Potential routes from Europe: |
| Germany |
There are no regular direct flights, scheduled or charter, to Lapland from Germany. The existing demand is 28,000 indirect passengers. The main airports for German passengers are Kittilä and Rovaniemi. A substantial growth potential exists between tour operators and airlines in this market. Ivalo and Kuusamo provide a good potential for wildlife and nature holiday seekers. |
| United Kingdom |
Almost 45% of Lapland’s international passengers currently come from the UK. The charter market is mature, but currently heavily affected by the economic downturn. The UK market has a well established Christmas/Santa Claus product bringing an annual 100,000-150,000 passengers to Lapland in December with growth potential to prolong the travel season from December to November-March. Scheduled flights are in demand to satisfy tour operator demand for part-charters and seat-only products. |
| France |
France is the second-largest international market for Lapland. The charter market provides seats for 60% of the total 37,000 passengers arriving to Lapland. Main airports served are Rovaniemi, Ivalo and Enontekiö. Establishing new tour operator sales in France would grow the total market. |
| Russia |
Russian tourists are the single largest market visiting Finland and Lapland, including a total of 20,000 passengers arrive to Lapland from Russia. New services from Russian scheduled and charter airlines would provide a strong alternative for the passengers arriving by train or car. The flight time from Moscow is only 1 hour – connecting the Moscow catchment to Lapland. |
| The Netherlands |
Around 60% of passengers arrive to Lapland via Helsinki (from a total of around 21,000). The growth of the direct charters has been given a boost to the market with TUI, Voigt Travel and Buroscandinavia giving Lapland a strong visibility in the Dutch market. Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Kuusamo are the main airports served. |
| Spain |
Around 65% of Spanish passengers arrive with scheduled service via Helsinki (from a total of around 21,000 Lapland visitors). Spain holds a potential in existing and new tour operators requiring suitable air services to grow their business. The main airports served are Rovaniemi, Ivalo and Kittilä. |
| Potential routes from Asia: |
| Japan |
Surprisingly, Japan makes it into the top10 international visitor chart with an annual 12,000 Japanese tourists arriving in Lapland via Helsinki, according to MIDT. The growth potential in this market is very high. |
Lapland Airports: The top three international markets
Ivalo
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Enontekiö
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Kittilä
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Rovaniemi
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Kuusamo
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Kemi-Tornio
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Other major reasons to serve this airport
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Ruka – one of several superb and unspoilt ski resorts where you ski right to your door. This district offers an astonishing 200 skiing days from October to May – and often later! But the biggest attraction is the nature - Kuusamo Lapland offers an expanse of wilderness unrivalled within Europe spanning five national parks.
- Kuusamo Lapland - exciting location at the Arctic Circle and near the Russian border, world-class quality tourist services and facilities within the heart of breathtakingly beautiful nature and wilderness. The biggest attraction is the nature; Kuusamo Lapland is the last area in Europe that has untouched wilderness with five national parks. Snow guarantee in winter and midnight sun in summer are exciting for everyone.
- The region’s economy is based on travel and tourism, wood processing, industrial food production, metal industry and ICT industry. Kuusamo region is the commercial centre of an economic zone of some 30,000 inhabitants. The Kuusamo (Lapland) region serves as a north-eastern gateway between the EU and Russia; there are two official border crossing stations to Russia (Kuusamo and Salla).
- Ruka, Pyhä, Salla, Syöte, Suomu, Taivalvaara and Posio major tourist complexes
- 102 ski slopes, 48 ski lifts and over 200 skiing days (mid October-May)
- 21 hotels with capacity of over 3,100 beds
- Cottages, cabins and villas with over 11,000 beds
- Restaurants with over 20,000 seats and
- Conference and meetings capacity up to 2,000 participants
- Nature adventures and activities throughout the year
- 5 national parks
- Oulanka (PAN PARKS)
- Syöte (Europark)
- Riisitunturi
- Pyhä-Luosto
- Paanajärvi (PAN PARKS) on the Russian side of the border
- Key companies
- Pölkky Oy
- Rukakeskus Ltd
- TeliaSonera Oyj
- JK Juusto Kaira Oy
- Pentik Oy
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Great natural assets – Europe’s biggest expanse of beauty is backed by these organisations keen to contribute to your route development and make it successful.
Marketing and other support
Lapland Airports offers a wide range of support to airline partners:
- Growth Incentive Scheme 2010-2011 (http://www.finavia.fi/airlines/Terms_and_conditions_and_airport_charges)
- Overall airport charges reduced by 10% since 1 September 2009
- Start-up support: For new routes (unserved airport pairs) a three year discount programme applicable to all carriers.
- Market information: statistics (MIDT) and passenger surveys on request.
- Consultation in planning and realising route marketing possibilities in Lapland
- Full details of promotion policy at http://www.finavia.fi/Marketing_Co-operation
Other marketing cooperations: Lapland Region and Finland
Finavia works in close co-operation with the following organisations, which are keen to contribute to your route development and make it successful:
Visit Finland
Visit Finland supports tourism industry businesses and groups in developing and marketing tourism services for the international market.
Lapland Marketing
Regional tourism development organisations:
- Levin Matkailu Oy (Kittilä Airport)
- Pohjois-Lapin Matkailu Oy (Ivalo Airport)
- Tosi-Lappi (True Lapland) Oy (Enontekiö Airport)
- Naturpolis Oy (Kuusamo Airport)
- Meri-Lapin Matkailuyhdistys ry (Kemi-Tornio Airport)
- Rovaniemen Matkailu Oy (Rovaniemi Airport)
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Ski jumping in Kuusamo, just 7km from the airport – a there are nine other superb resorts in the immediate catchment.
Catchment Area
Distances to Kuusamo Lapland holiday resorts:
- Kuusamo town: 7 kms / 10 minutes
- Ruka Ski & Holiday resort: 20 kms / 20 minutes
- Salla Ski & Holiday resort: 100 kms / 1 h 20 minutes
- Syöte Ski & Holiday resort: 100 kms / 1 h 20 minutes
- Suomu Ski & Holiday resort: 100 kms / 1 h 20 minutes
- Kemijärvi: 140 kms / 1 h 20 minutes
- Pyhä Ski & Holiday resort: 190 kms / 2 h 30 minutes
- Taivalkoski & Taivalvaara Ski & Holiday resort: 70 kms / 50 minutes
- Posio / Kirintövaara Ski & Holiday resort: 60 kms / 55 minutes
Under-served freight opportunities and other economic impact factors
Please contact us for more information on freight opportunities
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One of the airport’s nearest resorts – Ruka – has invested €8 million in new facilities for the 2010-2011 season including a new ultra-fast six-seater bubble chair lift, called PyhäExpress, is to be opened at the Polar slope at the beginning of season 2010-2011 – 50% less time on the lift means 50% more skiing! New demand has also led to significant new hotel construction in the village.
Geography
- Distances to Kuusamo Lapland holiday resorts:
- Kuusamo town: 7 kms / 10 minutes
- Ruka Ski & Holiday resort: 20 kms / 20 minutes
- Salla: 100 kms / 1 h 20 minutes
- Syöte: 100 kms / 1 h 20 minutes
- Suomu: 100 kms / 1 h 20 minutes
- Kemijärvi: 140 kms / 1 h 20 minutes
- Pyhä: 190 kms / 2 h 30 minutes
- Taivalkoski: 70 kms / 50 minutes
- Posio: 60 kms / 55 minutes
- Road and public transport access:
- Highway 5 (E63) goes via Taivalkoski-Kuusamo-Ruka-Kemijärvi
- Highway 20 between Oulu-Kuusamo
- Airport bus between Kuusamo Airport-Kuusamo town-Ruka- Salla.
- SkiBus in winter season between Kuusamo-Ruka Ski Center and inside Ruka Ski Resort
- Karhunkierros Trail Bus in summer time Kuusamo-Ruka-Juuma-Käylä-Salla
Infrastructure & Operations
- Runways (number and length): 1 runway 2500 x 45
- Slot Coordinated?: No
- Category: CAT I
- Terminals (Number, type and last major refurbishment): 1 International passenger terminal. New terminal opened May 2010.
Important infrastructure developments and/or other news
- New enlarged Lapland Airport Kuusamo
- Ruka pedestrian village
- New Ruka FIS competition slope for winter season 2010-2011
Vital statistics
- TOP 3 countries year 2009
- Russia / Ukraine 36,000 overnights
- Great Britain 16,400 overnights
- The Netherlands 8,900 overnights
- Passenger numbers (Commentary on domestic/international; scheduled/charter; business/leisure/transfer would also be useful here):
- 94,035 flight passengers in 2009
- 75,214 domestic/18,821 international
- Largest carrier: Finnair (71%)
