From January to March this year, Tromsø Airport had an 11 percent passenger growth compared to the same period in 2025, according to Avinor, marking the largest growth in the country for that period. The airport recorded 307,000 travelers in March, and never before have so many used it as in February, when more than 316,000 passengers either arrived or departed by plane. International traffic during March has been high, with departures to and from abroad particularly driving passenger growth, according to Avinor.
Airlines are coming to Tromsø with larger planes and selling more seats, according to Simen Ristan Frantzen, who also noted that Tromsø is an attractive travel destination with great interest in the region. He assumes that summer traffic will also be able to increase. Meanwhile, Bardufoss Airport has had more travelers so far this year than in the last ten years, according to Nye Troms.
I have registered that people have been drawn here due to the problems in Tromsø, among other things I know that there have been travelers from Lyngen who have come here for that reason.
According to NRK Troms og Finnmark, Martin Nymo described that people have been drawn to Bardufoss Airport due to problems in Tromsø, including travelers from Lyngen. He also described that the NATO exercise has likely played a role in Bardufoss Airport's growth. The specific figures for Bardufoss Airport's growth compared to previous years have not been disclosed, and it is not specified which airlines are operating larger planes and selling more seats at Tromsø Airport.
In addition, the NATO exercise has likely played a role.