# Varangfly

> former Norwegian airline

**Wikidata**: [Q102078121](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102078121)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/varangfly

## Summary
Varangfly A/S was a Norwegian regional airline headquartered in Kirkenes, Norway, that operated from July 24, 1959 until its dissolution in 1972. The airline used Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen as its hub and was succeeded by Norving in 1972.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name**: Varangfly A/S
- **Type**: Regional airline, business
- **Founded**: July 24, 1959
- **Dissolved**: 1972
- **Headquarters**: Kirkenes, Sør-Varanger Municipality, Norway
- **Airline Hub**: Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen
- **Successor**: Norving (as of 1972)
- **Country**: Norway
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/11qnrnsk1f
- **Wikipedia Presence**: German (de) language edition only
- **Sitelink Count**: 1

## FAQs

**What aircraft did Varangfly operate?**
Varangfly operated a small fleet of light utility and transport aircraft: five Cessna 185 Skywagons in 1971, two Noorduyn Norseman aircraft from 1965 to 1972, and one De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter from 1967 to 1972.

**Where was Varangfly based?**
The airline was headquartered in Kirkenes, a town in Sør-Varanger Municipality, Norway, with Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen serving as its operational hub. Kirkenes is located in far northeastern Norway at coordinates 69.72708°N, 30.04511°E.

**What happened to Varangfly?**
Varangfly was dissolved in 1972. Following its dissolution, the airline was succeeded by Norving, which continued regional aviation services in the area.

## Why It Matters
Varangfly represents an important chapter in Norwegian regional aviation history, particularly in the far northern region of Sør-Varanger near the Russian and Finnish borders. Operating from Kirkenes—a strategically located town with a population of approximately 3,424 residents as of 2025—the airline provided essential air connectivity in a geographically challenging and remote area of Norway. The airline's evolution into Norving in 1972 reflects the broader consolidation and development of regional air services in Norway's northern territories during the latter half of the 20th century.

## Notable For
- Operating as a regional airline in one of Norway's most northerly and remote municipalities
- Serving as the predecessor to Norving, indicating its role in the lineage of Norwegian regional aviation
- Maintaining a diverse fleet of both light utility aircraft (Cessna 185, Noorduyn Norseman) and larger transport aircraft (DHC-3 Otter)
- Basing operations at Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen in the strategically significant border region near Russia and Finland

## Body

### History and Formation
Varangfly A/S was established on July 24, 1959, as a Norwegian regional airline. The company was headquartered in Kirkenes, the administrative centre of Sør-Varanger Municipality in Norway. Founded in 1826, Kirkenes lies at an elevation of 9 metres above sea level and covers an area of 2.15 square kilometres. The airline operated for approximately 13 years before its dissolution in 1972.

### Fleet Operations
Varangfly operated a modest but varied fleet of aircraft suited for regional operations in northern Norway:

- **Cessna 185 Skywagon**: Five units operated during 1971
- **Noorduyn Norseman**: Two units operated from 1965 to 1972
- **De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter**: One unit operated from 1967 to 1972

### Hub and Geographic Context
The airline's operations were centered at Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen, which served as its airline hub. Kirkenes is situated in the far northeastern part of Norway within Sør-Varanger Municipality, approximately at coordinates 69.72708°N, 30.04511°E. The town maintains twin town relationships with Kars and Nikel, reflecting its international connections. The predominant official language in the area is Bokmål, though the region also recognizes Finnish (Kirkkoniemi) and Skolt Sami (Ǩeârkknjargg) native names.

### Succession and Legacy
Following Varangfly's dissolution in 1972, the airline was succeeded by Norving. This transition represented continuity of regional aviation services in the Sør-Varanger area, ensuring that air connectivity was maintained for this remote northern Norwegian community.

### National Context
Varangfly operated within Norway, a constitutional monarchy and representative democracy located in Northern Europe. Norway occupies the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, with a population of approximately 5,550,203 as of 2024. The nation operates as a constitutional monarchy under King Harald V (since January 17, 1991) with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (since October 14, 2021) leading the government. The official languages include Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk) and Sámi, with additional recognition of Kven, Romani, and Norwegian Sign Language.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
Varangfly maintains a limited digital footprint. The airline is identified in the Google Knowledge Graph with ID /g/11qnrnsk1f. Its Wikipedia presence is restricted to the German language edition, with a total sitelink count of 1. The Wikidata description characterizes the entity simply as a "former Norwegian airline."

### Classification
As a regional airline and business entity, Varangfly operated as a commercial organization undertaking professional aviation activity. The airline was classified as both an instance of a regional airline and a business, fitting within the broader category of organizations engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activities with the goal of generating profit.