Helgeland is a region with tremendous potential. The new airport being built in Fagerlia will serve all of Helgeland and stimulate development across the entire region.
This region is home to iconic landmarks like Petter Dass, Svartisen glacier, Rabothytta, Sjøgato in Mosjøen, the Helgeland Stairway, the hole in Torghatten, Kirkhellern, the Vistenfjord, the Seven Sisters, the UNESCO World Heritage island of Vega, the Northern Lights, and the Midnight Sun. All the conditions for success as a destination are already here.
For those who have fought tirelessly for this airport, the decision by the Norwegian Parliament on June 11, 2021, to initiate the project was a major breakthrough. Organizations like Polarsirkelen Lufthavnutvikling, Rana Municipality, the regional council, and the business community have all worked strategically to realize a regional airport. Local stakeholders have contributed an impressive NOK 666 million to secure a large-scale airport with a 2,400-meter runway—an effort that deserves the highest praise.
Helgeland is undergoing rapid transformation, and the new airport will play a key role. For current and future residents, the airport will offer a vastly improved flight schedule. A major airport will also enable a much broader offering of direct routes, making the region even more attractive for newcomers. Mo i Rana and the broader Helgeland region represent a forward-looking industrial community and a powerhouse in aquaculture.
The airport is set to be completed in 2027 and is dimensioned for 325,000 passengers per year over a 25-year horizon. However, the airport alone won’t attract passengers—proactive effort is needed.
It is now essential for Mo i Rana and Helgeland to embrace a new, long-term challenge: making the region attractive to airlines. Stakeholders must come together to demonstrate the potential for route development—through partnerships between industry, aquaculture, and tourism. This is a shared regional mission.
Avinor’s goal is to create a forward-looking, environmentally adapted airport that meets both current and future sustainability standards. The airport will implement cutting-edge technology and pave the way for the digitalized airport of the future—one that offers a seamless travel experience through the smart use of technology.
Selected remarks from the speech given by Abraham Foss, CEO of Avinor, during the foundation stone ceremony