Kuopio Airport

"KUO" redirects here. For the Chinese psychologist, see Zing-Yang Kuo.

Kuopio Airport (IATA: KUO, ICAO: EFKU) is an airport in Rissala, Siilinjärvi, Finland, about 14 kilometres (9 mi) north of Kuopio city centre. It is the fifth busiest airport in Finland, as measured by the number of passengers, approximately 235,000 in 2017.^[4]

Kuopio Airport Kuopion lentoasema
IATA: KUO ICAO: EFKU
Summary
Airport type	Public / military
Operator	Finavia
Serves	Kuopio, Finland
Location	Rissala, Siilinjärvi, Finland
Elevation AMSL	323 ft / 98 m
Coordinates	63°00′31″N 027°47′40″E
Map
KUO Location within Finland
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 15/33 2,800 9,186 Asphalt
Statistics (2017)
Passengers 235,411[1] Landings 2,023[2]
Source: AIP Finland[3]

The new air traffic control tower

History

Kuopio Airport was completed in November 1939 and flight operations started in May 1940. It was used by the Luftwaffe during World War II (1942–43). During the Continuation War the runways were made from plywood. The first terminal building was opened in 1949 before a new one replaced it in 1971.^{[citation needed]}

In 2004, Kuopio Airport was chosen as the Airport of the Year in Finland.^[5] As of 2006^[update], it was one of only five profitable airports in Finland,^[6] thanks to shared use of the runways by the Karelian Air Command of the Finnish Air Force and civilian airlines. Kuopio had its first international scheduled route when AirBaltic operated direct flights to Riga in 2008–2011.^{[citation needed]}

Lake terminal

A unique airport “Lake” terminal was completed in March 2008 (at 63°00′35″N 27°47′1″E). The terminal is situated 250 metres (820 ft) walking distance from the main airport terminal. It connects the airport to the Lake Saimaa region. Lake Saimaa offers a waterway connection to the cities of the Finnish Lakeland: Imatra, Joensuu, Kuopio, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Savonlinna and Varkaus. Vuoksi River flows from Saimaa to Lake Ladoga (Russia). Saimaa Canal connects Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland. There is no scheduled daily boat line here, but tour operators can use the terminal.^{[citation needed]}

Airlines and destinations

Check-in at Kuopio Airport

Airlines	Destinations
Aegean Airlines	Seasonal charter: Rhodes[7]
Avion Express	Seasonal charter: Chania[8]
Finnair	Helsinki[9]
Freebird Airlines	Seasonal charter: Antalya[10]
Pegasus Airlines	Seasonal charter: Antalya[11]
Sunclass Airlines	Seasonal charter: Gran Canaria[12]

Statistics

Annual passenger statistics for Kuopio Airport^[13]

Year	Domestic passengers	International passengers	Total passengers	Change
2005	274,954	32,785	307,739	+6.5%
2006	289,231	42,971	332,202	+7.9%
2007	270,430	33,774	304,204	−8.4%
2008	252,616	37,601	290,247	−4.6%
2009	220,018	30,546	250,564	−13.7%
2010	207,067	46,545	253,612	+1.2%
2011	244,472	39,933	284,405	+12.1%
2014	221,722	38,642	260,364	-0.3%
2015	202,041	30,226	232,267	-10.8%
2016	200,569	26,625	227,194	-2.2%
2017[1]	207,276	28,135	235,411	+3.6%

Finnish Air Force

Kuopio Airport is also home of the Finnish Air Force's Karelian Air Command and the Fighter Squadron 31 (HävLLv 31).

Accidents and incidents

• On 3 October 1978, Douglas C-47A DO-10 of the Finnish Air Force crashed into Lake Juurusvesi when attempting to return to Kuopio Airport. The aircraft was on a military flight to Helsinki Airport when an engine failed shortly after take-off and the decision was made to return to Kuopio. 15 people died in the crash.^[14]

Ground transportation

Means of transport at Kuopio Airport
Means of transport	Operator	Route	Destinations	Notes
Bus	Kuopio Public Transport	40	Market Square (Finnish: Kauppatori)	Every hour on weekdays
Taxi	Savon Taksidata	Airport Taxi	Kuopio	According to flight schedules

See also

• List of the largest airports in the Nordic countries