Airport Guide

History of Oslo Gardermoen International Airport

As with many air bases across the globe, Oslo Gardermoen Airport owes its foundation to the military, having been established as an air force base even before the start of the First World War.

The first recorded flight from the site took off in 1912, with Gardermoen becoming a firmly-established airport for the region by 1920.

However, after being bombed in the German invasion, the airport sat out the Second World War and needed to be rebuilt in the immediate aftermath of the conflict.

The 1960s and 1970s saw the airport used for both military and civilian operations and though air force flights ended well before the 1980, it wasn't until the 1990s when the government chose the site to be the country's principal air traffic gateway, that the airport benefitted from significant investment and expansion.

Since then, the airport has welcomed the construction of new passenger terminals, departure lounges and a high-speed rail link.

Travelling to Oslo Gardermoen International Airport

Launched to coincide with the rejuvenation of Oslo's main airport, the high-speed rail link offers quick and easy access to Oslo city centre from the terminal buildings.

The train leaves six times an hour and takes 19 minutes to compete the journey, while rail links to surrounding commuter towns such as Asker, Oppland and Vestfold are also available from the airport's specially-constructed station.

Running alongside these efficient train services are regular buses and coaches, while car rental facilities are also abundant both at the airport and in Oslo city centre, with the route served by the easily-negotiated E6 motorway.

Airlines flying from Gardermoen International Airport

Oslo International Airport's two runways welcomes a number of airlines offering both international flights as well as domestic services, though many cheap flights from the UK land in Torp Airport, approximately twice the distance from the centre of Norway's historic capital.

Domestically, Scandinavia Airline Systems (SAS) offers the greatest number of routes out of Gardermoen, flying to, among other destinations, Alta, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim.

Other low-cost carriers offering cheap etickets within Norway include Golden Air, Danish Air Transport and Wideroe.

However, Norwegian Air Shuttle currently boasts the greatest presence at the airport, serving ten domestic destinations as well as 50 international destinations from Oslo, including Alicante, Budapest, London, Marrakesh, Moscow, Paris and Rome.

SAS, US Airways, Pakistan International Airlines and Czech Airlines also operate international flights from the Norwegian capital, while cheap flights are also offered by the likes of Blue1, airBaltic and Cimber Air.

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