Svea Airport

The airport's closure was a direct consequence of the economic and environmental decision to permanently shut down coal mining operations at Sveagruva and Lunckefjell. The airport's sole purpose was to serve the mine, and with the mine's closure, the airport became redundant. The Norwegian government then initiated one of Norway's largest-ever nature restoration projects to remove all infrastructure, including the airport, and return the area to its natural state.

The site of the former Svea Airport has been completely decommissioned and restored to wilderness. As part of the massive environmental cleanup project managed by Store Norske, the gravel runway, terminal building, and all associated infrastructure have been removed. The land has been re-contoured to blend in with the surrounding Arctic landscape, effectively erasing the airport from existence. The area is now part of a protected natural environment with no remaining trace of the airfield.

Svea Airport was a private airfield owned and operated by the state-owned mining company, Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani (SNSK). Its primary and vital function was to provide year-round transportation for personnel, light cargo, and emergency services to the remote Sveagruva mining settlement. It served as a critical link to Longyearbyen, the main settlement in Svalbard. The airport featured a short, 800-meter (2,625 ft) gravel runway. Operations were typically handled by the airline Lufttransport, which flew STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, most notably the Dornier 228, several times a day between Svea and Svalbard Airport, Longyear (LYR). The airport was essential for the logistical support and crew changes required to maintain one of Europe's last major coal mines in the high Arctic.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Svea Airport. The fundamental reason for its existence, the Sveagruva mine, has been permanently closed and the entire settlement removed. The Norwegian government's policy for the area is focused on environmental restoration and preservation, making the construction of new infrastructure like an airport antithetical to its current and future objectives for the site.