Air Traffic Control Issue Causes Hours-Long Airspace Closure in Southern Norway

A technical problem at the Oslo Control Center caused aviation authorities in Norway to temporarily close the airspace over the southern part of the country on Thursday, leading to significant delays at Oslo airport, one of the largest in Scandinavia. The state-owned airport operator, Avinor, said the airspace was gradually reopened after more than three hours, but delays would continue throughout the day.

The technical error at the Oslo Control Center meant that the airspace in southern Norway had major restrictions. "The technical error was at the Oslo Control Center, which meant that the airspace in southern Norway had major restrictions," a spokesperson for Avinor stated. Long-haul flights were prioritized as the airport worked to return to normal operations, though the spokesperson said it would require a considerable amount of time before they were completely back to normal.

Oslo international airport, which handles around 25 million passengers per year, is Norway's largest and a main hub in Scandinavia, along with the airports in Copenhagen and Stockholm. Avinor, which is based in Oslo, runs 43 Norwegian airports.

Why this matters: The airspace closure in Norway comes at a time when European air traffic is already experiencing disruptions, including a planned strike by French air traffic control workers and a recent incident at Chisinau airport in Moldova where a bomb threat led to the evacuation of passengers and staff. These events highlight the complex and interconnected nature of air travel in Europe, where a disruption in one country can have ripple effects across the continent.

Avinor has apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers and is working to gradually restore normal air traffic operations. "Avinor, a state-owned company responsible for Norway's airports and air navigation services, has apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers," the company stated. Despite the disruption, Avinor emphasized its commitment to the safe and efficient travel of the approximately 50 million passengers it serves annually.

Key Takeaways

• Technical glitch at Oslo Control Center temporarily closed southern Norway airspace.
• Significant delays at Oslo airport, one of Scandinavia's largest, as airspace reopened.
• Oslo airport handles around 25 million passengers annually and is a major Scandinavian hub.
• Airspace closure adds to ongoing European air travel disruptions, including a French strike.
• Avinor apologized for inconvenience, committed to safe and efficient travel for 50M passengers.