Vuotola Airport
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Källälivi Vuotola Airport Källälivi Vuotolan Lentoasema | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Valkea | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Källälivi Airports Authority | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Greater Källälivi area, Valkea | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Kirppu, Valkea | ||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | May 17, 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 203 ft / 62 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | vuotolaairport.vk | ||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2019) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Källälivi Vuotola Airport (IATA: KLV, ACAO: NVKV; Valkean: Källälivi Vuotolan Lentoasema), also known as Vuotola Airport, is the primary international airport serving Källälivi and its surrounding metropolitan area. Named after Markku Vuotola, president of Valkea from 1927 to 1945, it is located in the outskirts of Vuornaa, 32 kilometers northwest of Källälivi city center.
The airport began operations in May 1978 to relieve pressure from Nalkki Airport and open a second international airport. It quickly supplanted Nalkki Airport as the main international airport for the Källälivi metropolitan area. In 2019, it handled over 52.6 million passengers and 1.48 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 two passenger terminals, one freight terminal, and three runways. It is operated by the Källälivi Airports Authority. It serves as the principal hub for Valkea Airlines and a secondary hub for Aurora Skyways.
History
Plans for a second international airport to serve the Greater Källälivi metro area were first drafted in the 1960s. At the time, Nalkki Airport served as the primary airport, but was quickly reaching its maximum passenger capacity. Plans for expansion required the destruction of a wetland area near the airport, which was met with fierce resistance from environmental group. As such, the Valkean government surveyed several potential sites around the capital, and a site was chosen in Kirppu, a village outside of the city of Vuornaa. A feasibility study was conducted in 1966, which called for a plan with two large terminals and two runways. Construction of the airport began in 1970, with plans to open by 1976. Together with the airport's construction, rail and road connections were built to connect it to the center of Källälivi.
However, progress of construction was slowed due to the onset of the Astyrian 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, eight 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 handled over 1 million passengers in its first year. In 1984, Vuotola Airport surpassed Nalkki Airport in passenger traffic for the first time. 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 1989 and was inaugurated in 1993 as Terminal 2. A dedicated freight terminal was completed in 1995. By the time these expansion projects were completed, Vuotola Airport handled more than 30 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 large covered area known as Vuotola Airport Plaza, as well as refurbished with new arrival halls, new check-in facilities, and a larger shopping area. In addition to this, 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 2017, Terminal 2 satellite building began service, while a new pier was added to Concourses 1A and 1B in 2020. In 2021 the Aircab podcar service opened, connecting all terminal buildings to each other.
Facilities
Vuotola Airport has two main passenger terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, the latter of which has a satellite terminal. 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. It is located on the western side of the airport, opposite Terminal 2. Since its renovation and expansion in the 2000s, it has a capacity of 25 million passengers per annum and currently serves all international flights except those of Blueworld members. It is comprised of Concourses A, B, C, and D.
An extensive renovation and expansion of Terminal 1's facilities began in 2014 and opened to the public in 2020. This included the construction of a new pier for Concourses A and B, which increased the capacity of the terminal by 6 million additional passengers and added spaces for 12 aircraft - 3 of which can accommodate the Airbus A380 or Streamline C970. The central building was also expanded for additional security and shopping facilities.
Terminal 2
Terminal 2, inaugurated in 1993, is the second oldest building. It is located opposite of Terminal 1 on its eastern side. The terminal is the largest terminal building, with a capacity of 25 million passengers per annum. Unlike Terminal 1, Terminal 2 was designed as a hub terminal, with all facilities located in a central hall.
The pier is equipped with 35 jetways. Terminal 2 also makes use of remote parking areas for aircraft without access to jetways on the east apron. In order to accommodate very large wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Streamline C970, additional jetways were added to Terminal 2 between 2007 and 2009.
Currently, Terminal 2 is primarily used by Valkea Airlines, its associated airlines (Aurora Skyways and Diamond Airways), and by Blueworld alliance members.
Terminal 2 Satellite
Plans for a satellite building for Terminal 2 were being prepared as far back as 2004, when it was projected that the main terminal would reach full capacity by 2016. Construction began in 2012 and completed in 2015, The satellite building opened to the public in 2017 as Terminal 2B.
Terminal 2B has 22 jetways, 11 of which can accommodate very large wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Streamline C970. The building lacks any check-in, luggage claim, or arrival and departure meet points - those are located in the main Terminal 2 building. Transport to and from the satellite terminal is served by a people mover system as well as through Aircab.
A future expansion for Terminal 2B is planned, which would make the building a T-shape, although no construction or completion dates have been announced.
Vuotola Airport Plaza
Connecting Terminals 1 and 2 is the Vuotola Airport Plaza, a dedicated shopping, business, and recreation area. The space is comprised of a large outdoor space with a curved glass roof covering the area, making it Valkea's largest roofed outdoor venue. The Plaza offers a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as office spaces, a medical center, and event hubs. Adjacent to Vuotola Airport Plaza is the airport hotel, operated by Golden Eagle Hotels & Resorts.
Freight Terminal
Runways
Vuotola Airport has three runways in service, all of which run parallel with each other. Each runway is capable of handling the heaviest commercial aircraft in use today, such as the Airbus A380. All three runways (08R/26L, 08C/26C, and 08L/26R) are 4,200 m (13,780 ft) long and 60 m (200 ft) wide.
Other facilities
Airlines
Passenger
Below are some of the airlines that operate regular and chartered flights to and from Vuotola Airport:
- Air Liberte
- Astyrian Global Airways
- Aurora Skyways
- Confederate Airlines
- Diamond Airways
- KNLM
- Royal Air
- Royal Airlines
- Royal Airways
- Royal Nikolian
- Valkea Airlines
- Valkea AirExpress
- ViZionair
Cargo
Ground transportation
Inter-terminal transport
Vuotola Airport operates an underground automated people mover system connecting Terminal 2 to Terminal 2B. The system currently uses the Valteo ILU-60 for its rolling stock.
A podcar system called Aircab connects all terminal buildings to each other as well as to the airport's parking lots and the Visitors Park. Each Aircab is battery-powered and can hold up to 20 passengers and their luggage. 22 Aircabs are currently in service.
Terminals 1 and 2 are within walking distance of each other, and are connected by the Vuotola Airport Plaza.
Train
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Vuotola Airport Station is located underneath Vuotola Airport Plaza and offers regional and intercity connections.
Regional trains operate on the N-line connecting the airport to Källälivi city center. The line serves commuter trains to the airport in ten-minute intervals. The journey to Källälivi Central Station takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
Intercity services are part of the SNR Källälivi-Novika line, a high-speed rail line that is part of the Central Corridor. The section between the airport and Källälivi operates at speeds of 250 km/h, while the section between the airport and Novika operates at speeds of 330 km/h. Ten trains depart in either direction every hour.
Both rail services are operated by Valkean Railways Group.
Bus
Buses departing for Källälivi arrive at Vuotola Airport every 30 minutes on average and operate 24 hours a day. These buses are operated mainly by the Källälivi Metropolitan Transport Authority, connecting the airport to Källälivi Central Station and other major railway stations and hotels in the Källälivi metropolitan area.
Intercity bus services to all parts of Valkea are provided by numerous transport companies, mainly Valkean Shuttle Company and ValkShuttle.
Car
Vuotola Airport is mainly connected to the V11 motorway, otherwise known as the Källälivi Ring Road, as well as the V1 motorway via the Vuotola Airport interchange.