New Bodø Airport, Norway

The future lands in Bodø

About

Challenge

Redeveloping and expanding Bodø Airport on a new site to accommodate the city's growth and meet evolving needs. Throughout construction, the current airport must remain operational, while the spectacular coastal setting, framed by mountains and sea, requires careful management of significant environmental and wildlife considerations.

Solution

Constructing a new airport, one kilometre southwest of the existing airport. The new runway, taxiways, aircraft stands and all external infrastructure are planned and designed while the existing airport remains fully operational.

Value

The new airport will strengthen connectivity across Northern Norway and provide residents, businesses, visitors and critical services with a future-ready transport hub. Designed to handle 2.3 million passengers annually, it will feature advanced automation, robotics and smart operating systems while freeing up space for Bodø's continued development as a regional centre.

Specifications

Scope

Runway length: 2,600 metres and a 150-metre extension.
Terminal and operations buildings: 25,000 m².
Asphalted areas: 650,000 m².
Excavation and relocation of 3.5 million m³ of rock and soil.
Passenger capacity: 2.3 million annually.
Involves approx. 350 companies and up to 3,000 workers.

Location

Bodø

Period

2023–2029

Country

Norway

Partners

Avinor (client), PEAB and LNS (partners).

Services

In partnership with PEAB and LNS: construction works on both the airside and landside (the runway, taxiways, aircraft stands and all external infrastructure, including demolition, blasting, sea embankment, grading, infrastructure works, paving, airfield lighting, safety systems and landside development).

Gravel production in progress in the south of the area. Photographer: Tor O. Iversen/Avinor

New Bodø Airport – a hub for connectivity and preparedness

The new Bodø Airport is designed to support the next generation of travel, connectivity and growth in Northern Norway. With capacity to handle 2.3 million passengers annually, the airport is scheduled to begin operations in 2029.

The project is a collaboration between Avinor, Bodø Municipality and the Norwegian Armed Forces and will strengthen an important transport hub for residents, businesses, visitors and critical services across Northern Norway. The new airport has ambitions to become one of Norway’s most modern, with a high degree of automation, robotics and smart operating systems.

Reinforcement of the airport runway layers. Photographer: Tor O. Iversen/Avinor

Connecting communities through complex infrastructure

Building a new airport while the existing airport continues serving passengers requires close coordination across planning, design and construction. From runway and infrastructure works to testing and commissioning, the project teams are working together to optimise solutions and keep progress moving safely and efficiently.

Beyond improving travel, the new airport will support regional development and strengthen preparedness in Northern Norway. It is designed to serve communities both in everyday life and when resilience matters most.

The new Bodø Airport is much more than a transportation project. It’s a critical hub for the region and a key element in strengthening total preparedness in northern Norway. With forward-looking solutions and robust processes, we aim to help deliver a safe and efficient airport – both for everyday operations and extraordinary situations.

Arve Krogseth, Project Director, COWI