Yle has learned of the possible closure of a Finnish airport popular with Russians.

Lappeenranta Airport inFinland may close due to losses, according to Finnish broadcaster Yle. Among its clients were tourists from RUSSIA, whose numbers have declined sharply since 2014.

According to the television company's data, the airport's operations may be suspended due to EU policy, which stipulates that unprofitable airports should not be supported by public funds. Lappeenranta Airport invested approximately €12 million annually in the local airport.

Back in 2011, the airport was the fifth busiest in the country and set a record for passenger numbers—116,000 in one year. More than half of these arrived in the city from St. Petersburg. A sharp decline in the number of Russian tourists began after Crimea's annexation by Russia in 2014. This decline was due to restrictions imposed on Russians. Finland, for example, did not recognize Russian passports and other documents issued in Crimea and Sevastopol after March 2014. it also imposed restrictions on officials and other individuals associated with the annexation of Crimea. Significantly tightened entry restrictions for Russians occurred in 2022, when the military operation in Ukraine began .

In 2015, the city and the regional union of South Karelia purchased the airport from Finavia, and since then, its operations have been supported by taxpayers. After the pandemicDue to covid-19, passenger traffic continued to decline in 2020, never returning to pre-COVID levels. Currently, rail services from Lappeenranta only operate to Bergamo, Italy, but these will cease at the end of October. There is no information yet on whether such flights will continue.

Lappeenranta Mayor Tuomo Sallinen believes the airport's expenses were "manageable and reasonable." Most of them go toward personnel and flight support services. The airport's fate will be decided in the coming months. The mayor noted that three options are being considered: a capital loan , outsourcing operations, or completely shutting down the airport. A decision will be made by early December.

In September 2023, Finland and several other Baltic countries banned entry of Russian vehicles. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that only EU citizens permanently residing in Russia, their family members, and diplomats may enter Finland in a Russian-registered vehicle. Furthermore, the restriction does not apply to cases where entry is necessary for humanitarian reasons.

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