In April 1995, when Parliament decided to nationalize twenty-six regional airports owned by their respective municipalities, they also debated a proposal to build a new airport in Båtsfjord. At the time Widerøe was obliged to operate routes to the airport until 31 March 1997. In December 1995, Widerøe took delivery of their fifteenth Dash 8 and thus their only need for a Twin Otter was to serve Båtsfjord. From 1994 to 1997, the cost estimates for the new airport increased from NOK 95 to 125 million. By June 1998, Parliament approved additional funding which brought the cost to NOK 178 million, including a new county road for NOK 8 million. The airport opened on 9 September 1999. From the opening Widerøe used the Twin Otter until 1 April 2000, when the route was taken over by larger Dash 8 aircraft. Airport security was introduced on 1 January 2005.