Bergen Airport, Flesland – The gateway to Western Norway
Bergen Airport, Flesland is the main airport in Vestland County. The new terminal at Bergen Airport opened in 2017 with a capacity of 7.5 million passengers. The airport is 18km from Bergen city centre, and Bergen Light Rail terminates at the new terminal.
Bergen Airport is Norway’s second largest airport. Fifty different companies keep the airport running, and more than two thousand people work at the airport. The airport has its own helicopter terminal.
The goal for Bergen Airport is to contribute to the growth and development of the region by offering a useful network for travel and business.
Bergen Airport welcomes visitors to the uniqueness of the region and takes Western Norwegians out into the world. Western Norwegians are the explorers who never settle for the familiar. The urge to travel has brought with it inspiration and kept the region alive. The natural environment in Western Norway is grand and majestic, with high mountains, rough seas, steep valleys and deep fjords.
Bergen is the ‘capital of Western Norway’ and known as the gateway to Norway’s world-famous fjords, but it is also known for its Hanseatic culture and Bryggen, which is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. As a larger city, Bergen has a rich artistic and cultural life.
The architecture at the airport is inspired by the region with design and material choices including wood, stone, light and air. The choice of materials, images and films show the grand and majestic natural environment. One of Europe’s largest glass façades offers travellers a view of the featured artwork, BERGEN?, on the rock face opposite the terminal.
BERGEN? was created by the Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson. The bright yellow letters are 5.5 metres tall and weigh 2.5 tonnes each.
The natural environment is the primary reason to visit Western Norway, and as such, natural experiences are featured on two large video walls in the terminal. Western Norway is also known for its culinary traditions from the fjords and mountains with great ingredients such as salmon from the fjords and apples from Hardanger. At a number of restaurants, you will be served local food based on specialities and culinary history, such as Bergen’s fish soup, cider from Hardanger and freshly-squeezed apple juice.
Western Norway and Bergen are known for, among other things, their nature experiences, maritime traditions and fishing. This is reflected in many areas – from its nature to it architecture, industries, design, art, culture, activities, products, food and drink. It is the region’s unique character that makes Western Norwegians proud, and which we want travellers to experience at Bergen Airport.
