Funding for regional air services approved in Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy
The Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy decided on 20 May 2025 to fully finance flight connections between six regional airports and Helsinki up to 27 February 2028. Air connections to the city of Savonlinna, however, will be funded out of government funds up to 50 per cent only. The decision is based on the spring 2026 government discussion on spending limits.
“We pledged to strengthen local vitality by securing regional flights and to treat the regions with an equal hand. We have now delivered on our promises,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne.
In accordance with the decision of the Ministerial Committee, the contracts on flights between the Helsinki-Vantaa airport and the airports of Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kemi-Tornio, Kokkola-Pietarsaari and Pori respectively will be extended up to 27 February 2028. The entire costs of flights between these regional airports and Helsinki will be covered by central government funds until the end of the contract period. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom estimates that the total budget for supporting the said air connections will be EUR 38.52 million until the end of the contract period.
The central government’s share of the procurement of air connections between Helsinki and Savonlinna will be 50 per cent of the costs, yet a maximum of one million euros per year. Their funding is based on the appropriation allocated for such acquirements in the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2025–2028. The tendering process launched by the City of Savonlinna and Traficom is now underway. The tendered new services are set to start on 19 January 2026 and continue until the end of 2028.
The Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government states that while air traffic in Finland will be developed primarily on market terms, flight connections important for security of supply, export industries and tourism will be secured with outsourced services if necessary.
Air transport purchases driven by coronavirus pandemic
On 24 August 2020, the Ministry of Transport and Communications appointed a working group to assess the need for air transport services between Helsinki Airport and the five regional airports of Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kemi and Kokkola. At the time, during the COVID-19 pandemic, market-based air transport services had ceased on these routes and the operating environment for air traffic had deteriorated. The working group proposed that flights to and from those five regional airports be supported for a short, six-month transition period. Since then, individual decisions have been issued to continue the support for such air connections.
Inquiries:
Tuomas Sorsa, Special Adviser to Minister Ranne, tuomas.sorsa(at)gov.fi, tel. +358 295 342 012
Tiia Orjasniemi, Ministerial Adviser, tiia.orjasniemi(at)gov.fi, tel. +358 295 342 068
