Lappeenranta is the second most popular city in Finland, located on the shores of Lake Saimaa, one of the largest in Europe. Among the main attractions of Lappeenranta are the Linnoytus Fortress, the South Karelian Museum, the Art Museum, the Volkov House-Museum and the Saimaa Canal. After visiting the beautiful places of the city, you can go on a trip to Europe, choosing Lappeenranta airport for your departure.
General information about Lappeenranta Airport
Lappeenranta International Airport is the oldest in Finland. It has a second name - St. Petersburg West, as it is located not far from St. Petersburg.
The airport is located 2 km from the city center and 2 hours from Helsinki. In 2021, it handled 98,300 passengers and was ranked 11th in the ranking of the busiest airports in Finland.
The history of the airport begins in 1918, when the construction of an airfield on the site of a former military camp was completed. For the first time, the airfield was used in the same year for military flights. The first scheduled plane landed in 1951.
It received the status of an international airport only in 2009, when the first flights to Europe were opened.
The table below shows important dates and events in the history of the airport.
| Dates | Developments |
|---|---|
| 1918 year | Completion of construction. The first landing of a Finnish Air Force aircraft that flew in from Antrea. |
| 1939-1944 | It is used as a military airfield, which in 1944 was the most important base for fighters. |
| 1951 year | The first flights are carried out on a regular basis. |
| 1960 year | Completion of the construction of the existing terminal. |
| 1998 year | The runway was lengthened to 2,500 meters (the initial length was about 2,000 meters). |
| year 2009 | Two airlines - AirBaltic and Ryanair (all flights were canceled in 2016) - open flights to different cities in Europe. |
| 2011 | Passenger traffic at Lappeenranta Airport was about 116,000 people per year. |
| year 2012 | Blue1 made its maiden flight from Lappeenranta to Copenhagen. |
In 2021, Ryanair, the largest European low-cost airline, resumed cooperation with Lappeenranta Airport after a short break. From there, the airline flies to Bergamo and Athens.
| Flight number | Direction | Departure | Arrival | Days of the week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. FR3793 | Lappeenranta - Bergamo (Milan) | January 1, 1970 | January 1, 1970 | Wednesdays and Saturdays |
| No. FR4920 | Lappeenranta - Athens (Greece) | January 1, 1970 | January 1, 1970 | On Wednesdays |
After the airport ceased to be the property of the state, the aircraft became fly much less often. Lappeenranta Airport now serves mainly Matkavekka flights.
The airport is located in a one-story building. It has 2 parking lots: in the first one you can leave the car for free for a maximum of 1 hour (located opposite the entrance to the terminal), and the second is intended for a long stay and is paid.
The runway is 2,500 meters long and 60 meters wide.
A hangar built in 2004 is located not far from the terminal. It is equipped with everything necessary for the maintenance and storage of aircraft. The approximate cost of renting a hangar is 4390 euros per month (2.5 euros per square meter).
Lappeenranta airport terminal
All flights - both interregional and international - use one terminal. Despite this, all airport services work smoothly, and delays are rare.
The map shows that the construction plan is simple: at the entrance, all cafes and entertainment halls are located on the left, on the right - the mother and child's room and the restroom (near the registration desk).
The departure hall is located next to the arrivals area. The terminal is equipped with a board showing the flight schedule. The airport's halls are always attended by its employees who, if necessary, will provide assistance.
Services at the airport
Due to the small size of the airport, it is easy and quick to find the desired service, cafe, restaurant. The table below describes the services that the airport provides to passengers.
| Services | Description |
|---|---|
| Parking | The airport has 170 short and long-term parking spaces. No advance booking required. Payment for parking is made in the airport building in cash or by credit card. The cost for 2 hours is 2 euros, and for 1 day is 8 euros. |
| Cafes and restaurants | In the Vanha Pilotti restaurant you can choose pastries, dishes from the buffet or a la carte menu. BarFly Cafe serves passengers after passing through security. |
| Wi-Fi | Free SaitaOpen network, which does not require a username and password. |
| Post and banking services | The nearest post office is located next to the Lidl supermarket at a distance of 1 km. The nearest ATM is located at Puhakankatu 1, 53600 Lappeenranta. You can exchange money in the city center in banks, as well as in the shopping center "Gallery", the shopping center "IsoKristiina" and in "Safari". |
| Lost baggage search | If you have lost your luggage, please report it immediately in the arrivals hall. You will receive a notification from the airline about your baggage, after which an airport employee will contact you. If you forgot your item at the airport, please contact the Passenger Service Department or send an email to [email protected] |
Tax Free Refund
Tax Free is a partial value added tax refund system for goods purchased in the European Union. To receive cash, you need to issue a check, put a stamp on the Finnish border, go to the return point, present a stamped check and passport.
Tax Free refunds are carried out by the Global Blue operator, as well as authorized companies located at the border points of Nuijamaa, Imatra, Vaalimaa, etc.
Only Global Blue Tax Free Forms issued in Finland are accepted. The minimum purchase amount (one check, checks not cumulative) must be 40 euros, and the maximum refund amount is 500 euros.
In Lappeenranta, contact the following address: Downtown Refund Office, Galleria Shopping Mall, Kauppakatu 40 A.
The office is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 to 19.00, on Saturday from 10.00 to 18.00, Monday and Sunday are days off.
Check-in
The check-in counters are located to the right of the main entrance to the airport building.
You should arrive at check-in in advance to skip the line. You need to have a printed ticket and passport with you. It is possible to check the dimensions of hand luggage on a separate counter near the main entrance.
If your companion has a limited ability to move, please notify the check-in counter immediately. If necessary, the staff will guide the passenger through the pre-flight screening to the plane.
How to get to Lappeenranta airport
Lappeenranta Airport is located near the city center and near the Russian border. You can get to it by car, bus or taxi transfer.
The distance from the Russian border to the airport is only 30 km. If you have a car, the most convenient way is to take highway 6.
Residents of St. Petersburg do not need additional documents for crossing the border if they have a Schengen visa.
From the city center to Lappeenranta airport there is a regular bus number 4. The journey takes no more than 10 minutes. Also, buses run to the airport from St. Petersburg from the Pulkovskaya and Moscow hotels. The distance is 220 km, and the travel time is about 8 hours.
Taxis in Lappeenranta are best ordered by phone. The journey to the airport will cost 12-15 euros and will take 5 minutes. City taxi service number: +358 (200) 60-400. An alternative is to order a taxi on the website.
Reference Information
The airport is located at Lentokentantie 21, 53600, Lappeenranta, Finland. For any inquiries, please call +358 (0) 40 5022 411 or Email [email protected].
For more information, visit the official website of Lappeenranta Airport.
Conclusion
The airport in the Finnish city of Lappeenranta until 1951 worked for military purposes. Now it serves not only domestic but also international flights.
The airport is small, so customs control, baggage inspection, check-in and boarding are very fast. Flights from Finland to Europe are popular with Russians due to their low cost.
Now you know that you can fly not only from Helsinki or Tampere, but also from the borderline Lappeenranta.
