Lappeenranta Airport has applied for a total of one million euros from the Eastern Finland support package for two years. It would partially replace the state support that did not come this year.
Lappeenranta Airport is waiting for funding for its operations from the Eastern Finland support package.
The airport has applied for a total of one million euros from the support package for two years.
According to Himanen’s understanding, the airport’s financial issue is still handled by different administrative branches.
– So at this stage, no money was directly received, but the processing of the matter continues and it is listed there separately, Himanen says.
Permanent state support is still the goal
On Thursday, the government announced a support package for Eastern Finland of more than 50 million euros, which is part of the state budget.
The support package was prepared by the state secretary’s working group, which considers the accessibility of eastern Finland to be important. According to the working group, good air connections play a significant role in eastern Finland’s export industry, tourism and accessibility.
According to Himanen, funding from the support package would be necessary for the airport, as the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom did not grant the airport state support for this year. The airport has filed a rectification request for the decision, which is still being processed by Traficom.
However, permanent state support is still the airport’s goal. In addition, the Saimaa Airport Foundation, which owns the airport, is applying for funding from the county association, the so-called accessibility money, which has been collected from the municipalities of South Karelia.
– Money was collected to improve the availability of air traffic. It has not been used yet.
Negotiations with large accommodation operators
The news sounds good to Himanen.
– Discussions have been held continuously specifically with larger accommodation operators.
Funding for the airport’s basic operations would not necessarily come into question, but more customized options have been presented.
– If, for example, charters arrive, we will certainly get financiers involved. The order charter would serve tourism operators directly. From them, so to speak, passengers can be allocated to different hotels, says Himanen.
There are individual travelers on Ryanair’s scheduled flights who, in Himanen’s words, have \”booked their own patterns\”.
In the future, the airport’s funding could therefore come from the city of Lappeenranta, the Eastern Finland package, the provincial fund and the business community, without forgetting permanent state support.
– Yes, there are very good prospects here, but there is still work to be done.
Currently, the airport receives support of 1.3 million euros per year from the city of Lappeenranta. According to Himanen, if 500,000 euros were added, it would be used to maintain one flight route.
The airport is currently undergoing a strategy update. It will be submitted to the city board for consideration during September.