Honningsvåg was served by a seaplane route in the late 1930s, but these never resumed after World War II. Valan Airport was planned as part of the construction of short take-off and landing airports in Finnmark, but did not open until 30 June 1977 because of airport's difficult terrain and landing conditions. Widerøe originally served the airport using the de Havilland Canada Twin Otter and the de Havilland Canada Dash 7, until the Bombardier Dash 8 was introduced in 1995. The routes have since 1997 been subsidized through public service obligations. A new terminal opened in 1989. The opening of the North Cape Tunnel in 1999 has resulted in a decrease of traffic at the airport.