The World’s Northernmost Airport Faces a Melting Runway Crisis

Svalbard Airport, located in Norway’s remote Arctic Archipelago, holds the unique distinction of being the world’s northernmost airport offering scheduled commercial flights. But as the planet warms, this icy outpost is confronting a dramatic challenge, its runway is literally melting. 

Built in the early 1970s, the airport's 2,300-meter runway sits on permafrost ground that remains frozen for at least two years. However, as global temperatures continue to rise, that frozen foundation is thawing, leading to runway instability, ground subsidence, and mounting safety concerns. “We check the runway meticulously every day during the summer because the ground can shift at any time,” explains airport manager Ragnhild Kommisrud. “And this is only expected to worsen.” 

Despite its harsh and remote location, Svalbard is surprisingly accessible. Commercial carriers like SAS and Norwegian fly year-round between Longyearbyen Svalbard’s main town and mainland Norway, more than 800 kilometres to the south. In addition to regular flights, the airport attracts charter services and private jets, thanks to the region's growing appeal among adventurous tourists. 

However, climate change is altering more than just the weather. Melting permafrost threatens infrastructure beyond the runway, with buildings, roads, and even entire hillsides becoming unstable. Yet the airport remains a lifeline for Svalbard’s 2,500 residents. If it were forced to close, supplies would have to come via ship—a two-day journey each way. 

Due to its isolation, the airport must be self-sufficient. “We keep spare equipment and staff on hand at all times,” says Kommisrud. “If something breaks, we can’t wait for help to arrive.” When the local power plant failed, emergency generators had to be flown in by a C-17 Globemaster from mainland Norway. 

The issue of power generation has long been a contentious one for the community. Despite Svalbard’s deep environmental ties, it depended heavily on coal until recently. Although the archipelago is rich in coal deposits and strategically located near ice-free fjords ideal for shipping, its reliance on fossil fuels stood at odds with Norway’s broader push toward sustainability. Over the past decade, Norwegian-operated mines have largely shut down, including the major Sveagruva mine in 2020. The site has since been rewilded. Meanwhile, a Russian run mine in Barentsburg still operates but at reduced output. 

In 2023, Longyearbyen officially closed its coal-fired power plant, switching to diesel-generated power. While diesel still carries a high carbon footprint, the change marked a nearly 50% reduction in emissions. Even so, this wasn’t enough for Avinor, the government-owned entity managing Svalbard Airport and more than 40 others across Norway. 

With national targets to reduce aviation-related emissions by 42% by 2030 (compared to 2022 levels) and 90% by 2050, Avinor had to take further steps. Svalbard Airport, despite its limited traffic, contributed significantly to the company’s emissions profile. The solution? A new biogas-powered plant, built exclusively for the airport, is now in the works. This move aligns with Norway’s wider decarbonisation strategy and brings the airport one step closer to operating sustainably even in one of the world’s most extreme environments.