Finavia expands Rovaniemi Airport terminal to meet growing demand from Lapland’s booming tourism industry

Credit: Finavia

Finavia will invest €3 million in extending Rovaniemi Airport (RVN)’s terminal in 2025, with completion planned for the winter season 2025–2026. The expansion is designed to improve the passenger experience as Lapland’s tourism, particularly in Rovaniemi, continues its strong upward trend.

Details on Rovaniemi Airport’s developments 

Passenger traffic at RVN rose by nearly 30 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year, with total numbers reaching nearly one million—most of them international. The region’s growing appeal has also increased airline interest in RVN, prompting Finavia to act by expanding terminal facilities to support sustained growth and operational efficiency.

“For years, Finavia has been investing in the development of airports in Lapland so that tourism in the Lapland region could grow and develop,” said Jani Jolkkonen, Finavia’s Senior Vice President, Airport Network. “Rovaniemi Airport represented just under half of the total investment at EUR 25 million. It is clear that a good passenger experience must be maintained even at a rapid rate of growth, so I am very pleased to announce a new investment in Rovaniemi.”

Construction will run from April to November 2025. The new terminal extension—adding nearly 1,000 square metres to the departures hall—will be situated in front of the airport. Temporary changes to traffic arrangements will be in place during summer, though air traffic operations at RVN will remain unaffected.

This move builds on Finavia’s earlier €60 million development programme (2018–2020), which upgraded Rovaniemi, Kittilä, and Ivalo airports. RVN alone accounted for nearly €25 million of that investment. Over the past decade, Finavia has invested more than €100 million in Lapland’s airport infrastructure, including routine runway maintenance and equipment upgrades.

In 2024, Lapland’s airports, including RVN, reached net zero carbon emissions and earned Visit Finland’s sustainable travel certificate. Continuous improvements and long-term planning have contributed to consistently high passenger satisfaction scores.

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