The aviation industry is struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this, Pajala Municipality is choosing to invest in expanding its airport. The hope is to attract more European tourists in the coming winters.
For almost ten years, Pajala has been receiving tourists from the UK who have wanted to experience winter and perhaps meet Santa Claus. But the aircraft has always had to wait for the tourists as there is no space in the terminal. Currently, Pajala Airport can receive 150 passengers, but then they have to travel home on the same plane they came on.
Airport manager believes in great development
Now Pajala Municipality wants to expand the airport so that tourists can board a new plane that lands with an additional 150 guests, so that there is room for 300 travelers in the terminal at the same time - and thus more tourists.
– But we have to get rid of the pandemic first, of course. It's a big obstacle, says Thomas Scherman.
Over 4,000 travelers in 2019
Charter tourists account for a large proportion of total travel at the airport. In 2019, there were 2,059 charter tourists who arrived on the eleven flights and, of course, the same number who traveled by road. In the statistics, they are counted as 4,118 travelers.
Big loss during the pandemic
At the same time, the total number of passengers travelling between Pajala and Luleå, arriving and departing, amounted to 2,197. This makes a total of 6,315 passengers.
The loss of charter tourists this year due to the corona pandemic also makes the total loss at the airport striking. Up until November, only 917 passengers had traveled to and from Pajala.
Source.svt.se
