Norway assesses feasibility of third Oslo Airport runway: part one – environmental factors rank high

Avinor Oslo Airport is one of only two out of five Nordic country capital city airports not to have three runways. Two should be adequate for 28 mppa, which was the airport's total in 2019.

The airport is located 47km north of the capital and is at the forefront of the adoption of environmental guidelines and practices. Its goals are in line with the UN's sustainability goals and support the EU's 'Green Deal', where significantly increased environmental and climate attention is expected.

But Avinor is nothing if not ambitious and, with financial results continuing to improve, clearly sees an end to the pandemic impasse and better economic circumstances.

The government, which owns it, has established a committee to investigate a third runway - it probably will go ahead, and the concept stands to be disproved. The biggest difficulty will be convincing the public in a country that is almost as environmentally aware as neighbouring Sweden.

This is part one of a two-part report.