Jukka Himanen, the airport’s CEO, is still waiting for the Parliament’s decision on support for tourism. Half a million euros would allow a year’s continuation of flights between Lappeenranta and Bergamo.
As part of the city’s budget, the council decided that the city will support the airport with €1.3 million annually between 2023 and 2025.
According to Himanen, the subsidy will remain at the same level as in 2022 and will secure the basic operations of the airport, such as staff salaries, air traffic control services and maintenance.
– In practice, it ensures that we are a full-service field. We can accommodate taxi, charter and cargo flights, as well as Finnair training flights.
The airport still needs additional funding to add more flight routes.
Currently, Ryanair flies between Lappeenranta and Bergamo, Italy, twice a week.
The provincial government granted a grant to secure flights between Lappeenranta and Bergamo until the end of March 2023.
– We are hopeful that we will receive additional funding from the state, Himanen says.
Hoping for a pot of half a million euros
The government has proposed a total of one million euros in support for the tourism of Mikkeli and Lappeenranta for the year 2023.
In practice, the support would go to air traffic and it would be divided equally between the cities.
According to Himanen, half a million euros would enable a one-year extension contract for flights between Lappeenranta and Bergamo with Ryanair.
Negotiations with companies
According to Himanen, the airport is also negotiating with other airlines.
– It is possible that there are cheaper or even market-based operators. However, aviation is still affected by Corona and the crisis in Ukraine, so better times are still ahead, says Himanen.
According to Himanen, the occupancy rate of Ryanair’s flights between Bergamo and Lappeenranta has been increasing in December.
– Italians come here to marvel at winter.
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