The first airline to operate to Båtsfjord was Varangfly, later renamed Norving, who flew seaplane taxi and ambulance flights in the early 1960s. Construction of an airfield in Båtsfjorddalen was started by the aviation club Båtsfjord Flyklubb in 1972 and completed in May 1973. It consisted of an  gravel runway and was served with regular flights by Norving. The municipality took over ownership of the airport in 1976. Norving remained the sole operator until 1990, when the routes were taken over by Widerøe using the Twin Otter.