Vaasa Airport

{{Infobox airport

| name = Vaasa Airport

| nativename = {{lang|fi|Vaasan lentoasema}}
{{lang|sv|Vasa flygplats}}

| image = Finavia Logo.svg

| image-width = 250

| image2 = Vaasa Airport 20190609.jpg

| image2-width = 250

| IATA = VAA

| ICAO = EFVA

| pushpin_map = Finland

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_label = VAA

| pushpin_map_alt =

| pushpin_mapsize =

| pushpin_image =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Finland

| type = Public

| owner =

| operator = Finavia

| city-served =

| location = Vaasa, Finland

| opened = {{start date|1938}}

| elevation-f = 21

| elevation-m = 6

| coordinates = {{coord|63|02|43|N|021|45|51|E|region:FI|display=inline,title}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.finavia.fi/airports/vaasa}}

| metric-rwy = y

| metric-elev = y

| r1-number = 16/34

| r1-length-f = 8,202

| r1-length-m = 2,500

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| stat-year = 2024

| stat1-header = Passengers

| stat1-data = 177,592{{cite web |url=https://www.finavia.fi/sites/default/files/documents/Passengers%20by%20Airport%201998-2024-fi-fi.xlsx |title= Passengers by Airport 1998-2024-fi-fi |access-date= 14 January 2025|publisher= Finavia }}

| stat2-header = Landings

| stat2-data = 4,301{{cite web |url=https://www.finavia.fi/sites/default/files/documents/Flight%20volumes%20in%20all%20traffic%20by%20Airports-fi_56.xlsx |title=Flight volumes in all traffic by Airports-fi_56.xlsx |publisher= Finavia |access-date= 14 January 2025}}

| footnotes = Source: AIP Finland{{Cite web |url= https://ais.fi/ais/eaip/pdf/aerodromes/EF_AD_2_EFVA_EN.pdf |title= EFVA Vaasa |access-date= 17 July 2011 |date= 5 May 2011 |work= AIP Suomi / Finland |publisher= Finavia |pages= EFVA AD 2.1, 1–14 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170326193948/https://ais.fi/ais/eaip/pdf/aerodromes/EF_AD_2_EFVA_EN.pdf |archive-date= 26 March 2017 |df= dmy-all }}

}}

Vaasa Airport ({{langx|fi|Vaasan lentoasema}}, {{langx|sv|Vasa flygplats}}) {{Airport codes|VAA|EFVA}} is located in Vaasa, Finland, about {{convert|9|km}} south-east of Vaasa city centre. As of 2024, it is the 7th busiest airport in Finland with 177,592 passengers.

History

The airport was opened in 1938 when Aero began passenger traffic, which was later interrupted by the war.{{Cite web|url=https://www.finavia.fi/en/airports/vaasa/airport/about|title=Facts about Vaasa Airport | Finavia|website=Finavia| access-date= 30 April 2022}} In 1945 the airport building was completed and passenger routes were reopened.

The airport took its current shape in the 1950s, when the runway was extended to 1,800 metres and the airport building was expanded. In 1951 Vaasa Airport got its first international connection as Veljekset Karhumäki opened a route to Sundsvall in Sweden. In 1971 the runway was extended to 2,000 metres and Finnair began jet traffic with DC-9 aircraft.

In 1993 the third and most significant expansion at the airport was completed, with the airport getting separate facilities for domestic and international traffic and with a significant improvement of the airport's services. In 1998 Vaasa Airport took a step towards more international aviation, as the runway was extended to 2,500 metres in October. In 2014 the terminal's renovation was completed: a new baggage claim hall, security control rearrangement, another café and a new store.

In 2005,{{Cite web |url= http://www.finavia.fi/press/pressreleases/finavia_releases/finavia_release?id=1091365 |title= Vaasa is Airport of the Year |access-date= 17 July 2011 |date= 28 November 2005 |publisher= Finavia |location= Vantaa |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120314032610/http://www.finavia.fi/press/pressreleases/finavia_releases/finavia_release?id=1091365 |archive-date= 14 March 2012 |df= dmy-all }} 2008,{{Cite web |url= http://www.finavia.fi/press/pressreleases/finavia_releases/finavia_release?id=1091571 |title= Vaasa is Airport of the Year 2008 |access-date= 7 January 2009 |date= 11 November 2008 |publisher= Finavia |location= Vantaa |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120314032615/http://www.finavia.fi/press/pressreleases/finavia_releases/finavia_release?id=1091571 |archive-date= 14 March 2012 |df= dmy-all }} and once again in 2017{{Cite web |url= https://www.finavia.fi/en/news-room/news/2017/vaasa-was-elected-airport-of-the-year-a-pleasure-to-watch/ |title= Vaasa is Airport of the Year |access-date=19 May 2017|date= 19 May 2017|publisher= Finavia |location= Vantaa }} Vaasa Airport was chosen as the Airport of the Year in Finland.

The remains of the decommissioned 11/29 1,500m asphalt runway exist towards the south-west of the aerodrome.{{cite web |title=Way: 11/29 (158195047) |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/158195047 |website=OpenStreetMap |access-date=30 April 2022}}

In June 2024, Vaasa Airport hosted the Vaasa Airshow, marking 40 years since the previous airshow.{{Cite web |url= https://vaasaairshow.fi/ |title= Vaasa Airshow |access-date= 27 April 2024 |publisher= Vaasa Flying Club}}

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Vaasa:

{{Airport-dest-list

| Finnair | Helsinki{{cite web|url=https://www.finnair.com/gb-en/timetables|title=Finnair flight timetables {{!}} Finnair United Kingdom |date=19 October 2022 |publisher=Finnair|accessdate=4 February 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220725-ayaug22eu|title=Finnair August 2022 European Network Adjustment - 24JUL22|website=Aeroroutes}}

|Scandinavian Airlines| Stockholm–Arlanda{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221212-skns23eu|title=SAS NS23 EUROPEAN NETWORK ADDITIONS|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=12 December 2022|accessdate=12 December 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.finavia.fi/en/newsroom/2023/sas-double-flights-between-vaasa-and-stockholm|title=SAS to double flights between Vaasa and Stockholm {{!}} Finavia |publisher=Finavia|accessdate=4 February 2024}}

| Sunclass Airlines | Seasonal charter: Gran Canaria{{cite web | url=https://www.tjareborg.fi/lennot/edulliset-lennot | title=Pelkät lennot}}

}}

File:Interior of Vaasa airport 20190603.jpg]]

File:Vaasa airport tower 20190603.jpg]]

Statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: right" \|+ Annual passenger statistics for Vaasa Airport ! Year !! Domestic passengers !! International passengers !! Total passengers !! Change
2000 \| 227,523 \|\| 98,851 \|\| 326,374\|\| style="color:green"\|+4.2% {{increase}}
2001 \| 216,409 \|\| 95,651 \|\| 312,060 \|\| style="color:red"\|−4.4% {{decrease}}
2002 \| 194,651 \|\| 74,466 \|\| 269,117 \|\| style="color:red"\|−13.8% {{decrease}}
2003 \| 169,088 \|\| 79,836 \|\| 248,924 \|\| style="color:red"\|−7.5% {{decrease}}
2004 \| 166,836 \|\| 94,480 \|\| 261,316 \|\| style="color:green"\|+5.0% {{increase}}
2005 \| 178,378 \|\| 118,886 \|\| 297,264 \|\| style="color:green"\|+13.8% {{increase}}
2006 \| 195,045 \|\| 111,106 \|\| 306,151 \|\| style="color:green"\|+3.0% {{increase}}
2007 \| 213,833 \|\| 108,095 \|\| 321,928 \|\| style="color:green"\|+5.3% {{increase}}
2008 \| 234,447 \|\| 108,948 \|\| 343,395 \|\| style="color:green"\|+6.7% {{increase}}
2009 \| 207,274 \|\| 86,983 \|\| 294,257 \|\| style="color:red"\|−14.3% {{decrease}}
2010 \| 194,102 \|\| 94,040 \|\| 288,142 \|\| style="color:red"\|−2.1% {{decrease}}
2011 \| 226,931 \|\| 111,568 \|\| 338,499 \|\| style="color:green"\|+18.0% {{increase}}
2012 \| 218,742 \|\| 155,399 \|\| 374,141 \|\| style="color:green"\|+10.5% {{increase}}.
2013 \| 185,562 \|\| 133,753 \|\| 319,315 \|\| style="color:red"
14.7% {{decrease}}
2014 \| 184,316 \|\| 141,570 \|\| 325,886 \|\| style="color:green"\|+2.1% {{increase}}
2015 \| 162,864 \|\| 119,573 \|\| 282,437 \|\| style="color:red"
13.3% {{decrease}}
2016 \| 173,541 \|\| 114,979 \|\| 288,520 \|\| style="color:green"\|+2.2% {{increase}}
2017 \| 162,333 \|\| 137,785 \|\| 300,118 \|\| style="color:green"\|+4.0% {{increase}}
2018 \| 166,195 \|\| 149,705 \|\| 315,900 \|\| style="color:green"\|+5.3% {{increase}}
2019 \| 165,125 \|\| 138,786 \|\| 303,911 \|\| style="color:red"
3.8% {{decrease}}
2020 \| 35,303 \|\| 24,409 \|\| 59,712 \|\| style="color:red"
80.4% {{decrease}}
2021 \| 16,648 \|\| 2,583 \|\| 19,231 \|\| style="color:red"
67.8% {{decrease}}
2022 \| 89,532 \|\| 23,712 \|\| 113,244 \|\| style="color:green"\|+488.9% {{increase}}
2023 \| 103,306 \|\| 50,475 \|\| 153,781 \|\| style="color:green"\|+35.8% {{increase}}
2024 \| 99,389 \|\| 78,203 \|\| 177,592 \|\| style="color:green"\|+15.5% {{increase}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: right"

|+ Annual passenger statistics for Vaasa Airport

! Year !! Domestic passengers !! International passengers !! Total passengers !! Change

2000

| 227,523 || 98,851 || 326,374|| style="color:green"|+4.2% {{increase}}

2001

| 216,409 || 95,651 || 312,060 || style="color:red"|−4.4% {{decrease}}

2002

| 194,651 || 74,466 || 269,117 || style="color:red"|−13.8% {{decrease}}

2003

| 169,088 || 79,836 || 248,924 || style="color:red"|−7.5% {{decrease}}

2004

| 166,836 || 94,480 || 261,316 || style="color:green"|+5.0% {{increase}}

2005

| 178,378 || 118,886 || 297,264 || style="color:green"|+13.8% {{increase}}

2006

| 195,045 || 111,106 || 306,151 || style="color:green"|+3.0% {{increase}}

2007

| 213,833 || 108,095 || 321,928 || style="color:green"|+5.3% {{increase}}

2008

| 234,447 || 108,948 || 343,395 || style="color:green"|+6.7% {{increase}}

2009

| 207,274 || 86,983 || 294,257 || style="color:red"|−14.3% {{decrease}}

2010

| 194,102 || 94,040 || 288,142 || style="color:red"|−2.1% {{decrease}}

2011

| 226,931 || 111,568 || 338,499 || style="color:green"|+18.0% {{increase}}

2012

| 218,742 || 155,399 || 374,141 || style="color:green"|+10.5% {{increase}}.

2013

| 185,562 || 133,753 || 319,315 || style="color:red"

14.7% {{decrease}}

2014

| 184,316 || 141,570 || 325,886 || style="color:green"|+2.1% {{increase}}

2015

| 162,864 || 119,573 || 282,437 || style="color:red"

13.3% {{decrease}}

2016

| 173,541 || 114,979 || 288,520 || style="color:green"|+2.2% {{increase}}

2017

| 162,333 || 137,785 || 300,118 || style="color:green"|+4.0% {{increase}}

2018

| 166,195 || 149,705 || 315,900 || style="color:green"|+5.3% {{increase}}

2019

| 165,125 || 138,786 || 303,911 || style="color:red"

3.8% {{decrease}}

2020

| 35,303 || 24,409 || 59,712 || style="color:red"

80.4% {{decrease}}

2021

| 16,648 || 2,583 || 19,231 || style="color:red"

67.8% {{decrease}}

2022

| 89,532 || 23,712 || 113,244 || style="color:green"|+488.9% {{increase}}

2023

| 103,306 || 50,475 || 153,781 || style="color:green"|+35.8% {{increase}}

2024

| 99,389 || 78,203 || 177,592 || style="color:green"|+15.5% {{increase}}

Ground transportation

colspan="8" style="background:gray; color:light red;"\|{{center\|Means of transport at Vaasa Airport}}
class="toc" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" style="width:75%; font-size:90%"
style="background:#efefef;" !width=22% \|Means of transport !width=20% \|Operator !width=10% \|Route !width=22% \|Destinations !width=18% \|Website !width=10% \|Notes
File:Feature suburban buses.svg Bus	Lifti	4	To Gerby via {{maplink\|text=Market Square\|type=point\|coord={{Coord\|63.0952669\|21.6159935}}\|icon=false}} ({{langx\|fi\|Kauppatori}}, {{langx\|sv\|Salutorget}})	[https://www.vaasa.fi/en/living/traffic-and-streets/public-transport/bus-schedules-and-routes/#:~:text=Route%204%20and%204V www.vaasa.fi]	At least every hour on weekdays between 6:00 and 21:00
File:Emojione_1F696.svg Taxi	Taksi Vaasa-Vasa	Taxi	Vaasa	[http://www.taksivaasa.fi www.taksivaasa.fi]

References

{{reflist|refs=

}}

External links

[https://www.finavia.fi/airports/vaasa Finavia – Vaasa Airport]
[https://www.ais.fi/ais/aip/ad/efva/efva.htm AIP Finland – Vaasa Airport]
{{NWS-current|EFVA}}
{{GCM|VAA|source=DAFIF}}
{{ASN|VAA}}

Category:Airports in Finland

Airport

Category:Buildings and structures in Ostrobothnia (administrative region)

Category:International airports in Finland