Lakselv Airport, Banak

Lakselv Airport, Banak
Lakselv Airport, Banak
IATA: LKL – ICAO: ENNA LKL Location of airport in Finnmark
Summary
Airport type		Joint (Civil and Military)
Operator		Avinor
Serves		Lakselv
Location		Banak
Elevation AMSL		8 m / 25 ft
Coordinates		70°04′00″N 24°58′26″E / 70.0666667°N 24.97389°E / 70.0666667; 24.97389
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	m	ft
17/35	2,784	9,134	Asphalt, some concrete

Lakselv Airport, Banak (IATA: LKL, ICAO: ENNA) (Norwegian: Lakselv lufthavn, Banak) is located 1,5 km from the town of Lakselv in the municipality of Porsanger in Finnmark county, in northern Norway. The airport also serves Karasjok, some 74 km to the south, with a corresponding airport coach six days a week. It is marketed under the name North Cape Airport, even though North Cape is 180 km away, while Honningsvåg Airport, Valan is only 35 km from the cape. Lakselv Airport is owned and operated by Avinor, serving 56,954 passengers in 2009.

The airport has daily connections to Tromsø and Alta, operated by Widerøe, as well as international charter flights during the summer season. It is the northernmost airport in European mainland which has a runway long enough for jet aircraft such as Boeing 737. Station Group Banak operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force also operates at the airport.

History

Lakselv Airport

Banak first saw use as an airport in 1938, when the military constructed a small gravel field diagonally on today's runway, about 11/29. The original runway is still partially visible in areas with little vegetation.

During World War II the German occupying forces expanded the airport, with hangars, workshops, hospitals in addition to defence positions. The buildings and installations were destroyed during the German retreat in 1944.

After the war the airport was taken over by the Air Force, but the runway's wooden surface was cannbalised because of material shortage during the first reconstruction period in Finnmark. By 1951 the runway was unusable, and the activities ceased temporarily.

Lakselv Airport opened again in 1963 along with the other two primary airports in Finnmark, Alta Airport and Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen. The airport was financed through NATO and in addition to a civilian airport was host to a military air station. The airport has since been expanded several times to meet military and civilian requirements.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
BH Air	Seasonal charter: Burgas
Widerøe	Alta, Tromsø[1]
Norwegian Air Shuttle	Oslo-Gardermoen

Accidents and incidents

• On 29 June 2005 an ICP Savannah micro aircraft crashed only a few minutes after its departure from Banak, with two flight instructors onboard. Both instructors were killed in the accident.
• On 23 March 1992 an F-16A lost power at 18 000 feet altitude. Pilot survived after aiming the aircraft at an unpopulated area and ejecting at an altitude of 3000 feet.
• On 12 June 1985 an F-16B with two people on board experienced control problems north of Banak. The pilot ejected and survived while one officer from Banak Air Station died.

References

1. ^ wideroe.no

External links

• Avinor entry for Lakselv Airport
• Avinor entry for Lakselv Airport (Norwegian) (more detail)