Avinor has set out plans for a long-term redevelopment programme at Oslo Airport, aimed at addressing rising demand for passenger traffic and cargo handling.
The proposals form part of a wider modernisation strategy for Norway’s main international gateway. The initiative is intended to improve operational efficiency, increase cargo capacity and create space for future commercial activity.
Thorgeir Landevaag, airport director at Oslo Airport, said the plans involve a comprehensive review of the airport’s layout. He described the approach as necessary to accommodate expected increases in exports, imports and passenger numbers over the coming decades.
Oslo Airport is already experiencing capacity pressures, particularly in aircraft parking and cargo handling. Growth in freight volumes, including seafood exports, has contributed to these constraints.
A key element of the proposal is the relocation of the cargo area to the western side of the airport. New freight and logistics facilities would be constructed as part of this shift. The move is intended to improve handling capacity and reliability, while also supporting employment and related business activity.
Relocating cargo operations would also release space closer to the terminal. This could be used to expand passenger services and accommodate additional routes. The approach may reduce the need for more costly infrastructure developments elsewhere on the site.
In parallel, Avinor plans to increase the efficiency of the airport’s two existing runways. Measures under consideration include operational adjustments and the introduction of rapid exit taxiways, allowing aircraft to clear runways more quickly. These changes are expected to enable a higher number of aircraft movements without requiring significant land use changes.
The company said that improved runway utilisation could delay the need for a third runway, while still meeting projected demand.
Further work will examine how the existing terminal can be used more effectively and potentially expanded over time, although this forms part of a longer-term horizon.
The overall redevelopment programme is expected to be completed by around 2040. The cargo relocation project is planned as the first phase, subject to investment decisions and regulatory approvals.
