Flying into Inari in the far north of Finland feels like landing at the end of the world, with trees and snow in every direction. Inari, Finland’s largest municipality by area, offers a winter wonderland for the discerning traveller, with activities such as husky sledding, snowmobiling, and skiing. The region is unspoiled by overtourism, making it one of the most unspoiled places in Western Europe. Inari has become a popular destination for adventure seekers, attracting airlines like British Airways to operate seasonal services to Ivalo Airport.
In order to keep airports like Ivalo operational in extreme Arctic conditions, Finavia employs a fleet of machines like plough-sweep-blow units and high-powered snow blowers to clear runways and taxiways. Helsinki Airport, which operates as an important international hub, also faces challenges in clearing snow with around 100 days of snow a year. Runway maintenance at Helsinki Airport involves a team of 15 machines that work to clear the runway within a 13-minute window. The machines used at these airports are specially designed to handle the extreme weather conditions.
Across all its airports, Finavia uses sensor technology to monitor the conditions on runways and taxiways, providing early warning of incoming weather. Weather conditions in Finnish Lapland, where snow usually covers the ground from November to May, pose additional challenges for airport maintenance. Despite the harsh conditions, no airport managed by Finavia has ever had to close due to weather-related issues. Ivalo Airport, the most northerly airport in the EU, sees more snow than most, operating in winter conditions for seven months.
Ivalo Airport has a team of around 50 employees, a temporary increase from 25 in the summer, who work to keep the airport clear of ice and snow. The airport has maintained operations even in extreme temperatures of minus 50 degrees. Recently, efforts have been made to reduce emissions, with Ivalo Airport achieving net-zero emissions by utilizing renewable energy and biofuels in its snow-clearing machinery. The airport has also been involved in testing autonomous snow-clearing operations as part of future innovation efforts.
Autonomous snow clearance operations have also been tested by other airports like Swedavia in Sweden and Oslo Airport in Norway. Advances in technology, including cloud-based software and autonomous vehicles, aim to make snow clearance operations more efficient, predictable, and eco-friendly. These developments represent a significant step towards ensuring that airports in the Arctic Circle can continue to operate safely and effectively in severe weather conditions. The innovation in snow-clearing operations is crucial for maintaining the accessibility of remote and unspoiled destinations like Inari.
