However, the Ministry of Transport asked the Civil Aviation Authority to establish a dispensation practice for international charter flights to/from Svalbard so traffic of this nature could continue. International charter flights to/from Svalbard have until now been processed as dispensations from the main rule.

On 2 July 2020, the Ministry of Transport have instructed the Civil Aviation Authority to no longer grant dispensations. Subsequently, the Civil Aviation Authority will cease granting permissions for international flights to Svalbard Airport, Longyear.

Certain international flights, in order to maintain critical services, may still be allowed. The same applies to certain scientific flights. Applications must be sent to traffic@caa.no.

The decision to disallow international charter flights into Svalbard Airport, Longyear has been made in order to maintain the state of readiness in face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This decision will not affect the agreement of 1974 regarding the use of Russian operators into Svalbard Airport, Longyear.