Vuotola Airport
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Våren Livet Vuotola Airport Våren Livet Vuotolan lentoasema | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Valkea | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Våren Livet Airports Authority | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Våren Livet metropolitan area, Valkea | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Vuornaa, Valkea | ||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | May 17, 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||||||||||
| Focus city for | |||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 203 ft / 62 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | vuotolaairport.vk | ||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2019) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Våren Livet Vuotola Airport (IATA: VLV; Valkean: Våren Livet Vuotolan lentoasema), also known as Vuotola Airport, is the primary international airport serving Våren Livet and its surrounding metropolitan area. Named after Markku Vuotola, Valkea's first president, it is located on the outskirts of Vuornaa, 22 kilometers north of Våren Livet city center.
The airport began operations in May 1978 to relieve pressure from the old overcapacity Nalkki Airport. It quickly supplanted Nalkki Airport as the main international airport for the Våren Livet metropolitan area. In 2019, it handled over 61.4 million passengers and 2.06 million tonnes of cargo, making it the busiest airport in Valkea by passenger traffic and one of the busiest in Lorecia.
The airport is comprised of three passenger terminals, one freight terminal, and three runways. It is operated by the Våren Livet Airports Authority, which also operates Nalkki Airport and Kervelä Airport. It serves as the principal hub for Valkea Airlines, including Valkea AirExpress and Valkea AirCargo, as well as a primary operating base for Aurora Skyways and Astyrian Global Airways. The airport currently handles more than 80 scheduled airlines.
History
Plans for a new airport for Våren Livet were first drafted in the 1960s, when it became obvious that air traffic at Nalkki Airport was unable to handle increasing amounts of air traffic. The Valkean government surveyed several potential sites around the capital, and a site was chosen in Kirppu, then a village belonging to the city of Vuornaa. A feasibility study was conducted in 1964, which called for a plan to build three runways and five terminals. Construction of the airport began in 1970, with plans to open by 1974. Together with the airport's construction, rail and road connections were built to connect it to the center of Våren Livet.
However, progress of construction was slowed due to the onset of the Valkean Recession of 1971. The cost to build it was larger than first previously evaluated, and there were widespread allegations of corruption. Furthermore, the end of one-party state rule in 1975 would mean that a cancellation of the project was possible. Despite these setbacks, work on the airport continued for the next three years, and Terminal 1 was finally opened on 17 May 1978, ten years after construction was started. That same year, Valkea Airlines transferred its main operations to the airport and designated it as its new main hub.
International traffic quickly transferred to the new airport, and Vuotola Airport surpassed Nalkki Airport in passenger traffic. Vuotola Airport handled 1 million passengers for the first time in 1979, followed by 5 million in 1985. It was becoming obvious that the new airport would soon hit its capacity, and that expansion was needed. A second terminal opposite of Terminal 1 began construction in 1987, and was inaugurated in 1990 as Terminal 2. A third runway was added in 1991, and a dedicated freight terminal was completed in 1995. By the time these expansion projects were completed, Vuotola Airport handled more than 10 million passengers.
Beginning in 2005, a number of construction projects and renovation works were conducted over the following decade. Terminals 1 and 2 were connected with a skybridge, as well as new arrival halls, new check-in facilities, and a larger shopping area. In addition to this, Terminal 1 was refurbished and upgraded with new concourses and satellite buildings, while Terminal 2's gates were upgraded to handle the Airbus A380. Runways 08R/26L and 08L/26R were lengthened to 4,200 m, and a new air control tower was opened. In 2014, Astyrian traffic was relocated to the newly-finished Terminal 3, while Terminal 1 was designated as a terminal for non-Astyrian traffic. That same year, the Aircab podcar service opened, connecting all three terminals to each other.
Facilities
Terminals
Vuotola Airport has four main passenger terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. The airport also has a separate freight terminal to handle domestic and international cargo.
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 is the oldest terminal, opening in 1978.
Terminal 2
Terminal 3
Freight Terminal
Runways
Other facilities
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Cargo
Ground transportation
Inter-terminal transport
Vuotola Airport operates a personal rapid transit system called Aircab, which are driverless transportation pods that run on an open guideway. They connect Terminals 1 and 2 to Terminal 3, as well as to each terminal's respective parking lots.
Terminals 1 and 2 are within walking distance of each other, and are connected by a skybridge.