Avinor

Avinor AS is a state owned limited company in Norway that operates most of the civil airports in the country. The Norwegian state through the Ministry of Transport and Communications controls 100% of the share capital. Avinor was created on 1 January 2003, through the privatization of the Norwegian Civil Aviation Administration known as Luftfartsverket.

Avinor owns and operates 46 airports in Norway, 14 in association with the Royal Norwegian Air Force and is responsible for air traffic control services in Norway. In addition to the 46 airports, it operates area control centers (ACCs) in Bodø, Stavanger and Oslo.

The Chief Executive Officer is Sverre Quale who has been in the job since 18 April 2006. He was the former head of the Norwegian Accident Investigation Board. Avinor has about 2,400 employees, including air traffic control, air navigation services, rescue, maintenance, administration and other airport operations personnel.

History

On 1 July 1947, the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communication created the Civilian Aviation Directorate (Luftfartsdirektoratet) to take over the responsibility for the civilian airports in Norway. Until then it had been the Norwegian Ministry of Defence who held responsibility for operating the airports, including the civilian sections. This responsibility had been delegated to the Aviation Council (Luftfartsrådet) within the ministry. The first director was Einar Bøe (1947–1964), followed by Erik Willoch (1964–1989), Ove Liavaag (1989–2000), Randi Flesland (2000–2005) and Sverre Quale (2006–).

The organisation changed name its to Luftfartsverket in 1967. In 1997, Oslo Airport, Fornebu and the then under construction Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, where merged into a separate subsidiary, Oslo Lufthavn AS. This company still operates Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. On 14 December 2005, CEO Randi Flesland resigned after an ongoing dispute with employees. She was temporarily replaced by Nic. Nilsen until Sverre Quale took over.