Gardermoen physically closes much of the terminal area – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

Norway’s main airport is almost like a ghost airport compared to normal times.

Last week’s traffic figures show a decrease in passenger numbers of 86 percent compared to the corresponding week in 2019 at Oslo Airport.

– At a time like this, it’s sad to be an airport manager at Oslo airport. We live off customers, passengers and airlines, and that they are not here at the airport is very sad, says airport director Stine Ramstad Westby.

She describes that it is empty in the terminal areas. And stores and restaurants are struggling to make ends meet.

Airport areas are physically closed

Due to low traffic, it has now been decided that Pir Nord, which includes both domestic and international traffic, and the entire eastern part of the departure hall, will be physically closed in a short time.

– First, we run the airport with a runway now where we alternate between the two we have. Also, we will now close half of the departure hall, so only the newer part will be open in the future. Passengers will experience this by seeing that we put up building walls and physically close this part of the terminal, says Westby.

Pier Nord was also closed from March to June, but both he and half of the departure lounge see the airport closed next year.

– It will allow us to save electricity, cleaning and maintenance. In the situation where we are now with little income, every penny counts, we have to save where we can, says Westby.

Very little traffic

There are now about 20 million fewer passengers than last year at Oslo airport, according to the director. They expect to land with just under 10 million passengers throughout the year compared to 29 million passengers last year.

– 9.5 million travelers are below what we had when we left Fornebu in 1998 and moved here. We believe it will continue to do so next year, Westby tells NRK.

He doesn’t think a vaccine will help a lot in traffic right away.

– The information we receive from the Norwegian Health Directorate is that it will take a while before vaccines are available to the entire population and all of Europe.

Traffic will likely pick up again starting in 2022 and 2023, the director believes. Only in 2025 is it expected to normalize traffic.

Serious situation

Now it seems dark for winter, says Westby. He fears mass layoffs at Gardermoen. The situation is dire.

– Now there are many who are laid off in the companies that have their business here at the airport. In the spring, the opportunity to fire them expires for a longer time. So we are prepared for layoffs, perhaps mass layoffs at the companies that are located here, Westby tells NRK.

There is still a belief that aviation will once again be an important mode of transport. But Westby believes that it is necessary to adapt to the reality in which one is at all times.

– I think we are facing a harsh winter, with little traffic, especially abroad.

Traffic is now expected to remain at a low level, as low as in 2020 until next year.

– So we hope people will be hungry to travel when it reopens. And then we hope it’s quick, Westby concludes.