Svea Airport
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Svea Airport Svea flyplass |
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Private | ||||||||||
| Operator | Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani | ||||||||||
| Serves | Sveagruva, Svalbard, Norway | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 10 m / 32 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 77°53′49″N 016°43′30″E / 77.89694°N 16.72500°ECoordinates: 77°53′49″N 016°43′30″E / 77.89694°N 16.72500°E | ||||||||||
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 ENSA
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Svea Airport (Norwegian: Svea flyplass; ICAO: ENSA) is a private airport located in and serving the Sveagruva (also known as Svea) in Svalbard, Norway. The airport is owned and operated by Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani, who use the airport to transport their coal mining workers from the company town to Longyearbyen and Svalbard Airport, Longyear. The airport features a gravel runway measuring 800 by 30 meters (2,625 by 98 ft). Flights are operated about thirty times per week by Lufttransport using their two Dornier Do 228.
The need for an airport at Svea arose during the mid 1990s. Store Norske, which had until then been mining coal in Longyearbyen, was in the process of moving the bulk of its mining operations to Svea. A road between the two towns was out of the question of environmental reasons. The company proposed that Svea would be built as a dorm town, were workers would commute for the week. They would have their permanent homes and families in Longyearbyen. On 10 April 1994, Store Norske's board stated that they could not support the two main alternatives, construction of an all-new permanent dwelling town in Svea, and commuting from the mainland. Store Norske cited their commitment to keep Longyearbyen a vibrant community.
The airport was officially opened on 16 February 1995. In March 1996, Store Norske, Kings Bay and Lufttransport sign an agreement concerning intra-island transport out of Longyearbyen. This involves the introduction of Dornier Do 228 aircraft, which will operate for Store Norske to Svea and for Kings Bay to Ny-Ålesund Airport, Hamnerabben. Store Norske commences construction of the new town and mine, and mining operations start in January 1997.
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