Proud military tradition and aviation history.

The very first flight in Northern Norway took off from Øvre Salangen on September 8, 1915. Tryggve Gran took off with the single-engine plane "Bleriot" from a field in Fagerthun in connection with a military exercise. The plane had been dismantled and sent by boat to Sjøvegan, then transported by horse and cart. Gran pointed out Elvenes in Salangen as a suitable area for a future airport, and so it was.

 

Elvenes was the first airport in Northern Norway.

but after World War II the Armed Forces no longer had much use for it. The authorities invested in Bardufoss.

Since 2003, there has been an annual air sports event at Elvenes, with motorized aircraft, microplanes, gliders, skydiving, hang gliding, paragliding and model aircraft.

In 2006, Salangen Municipality purchased the airport at Elvenes from the Norwegian Armed Forces.

The municipally-owned limited company Astafjord Utvikling operates and develops the area today.

 

In 2009, the company received a license from the Civil Aviation Authority for airport operations.

Arena Elvenes is still used as a military training area, but most of the time the area is used for other activities.