The initial airport consisted of a gravel runway and a spartan terminal consisting of no more than a shack. The airport opened on 17 May 1973 and Norving started an air taxi service using the eight-passenger Britten-Norman Islander. Grants of 3.5 million Norwegian krone (NOK) were issued from the state in 1981, which was supplemented with funding from Norving, the National Insurance Administration, Kommunalbanken and local interests. The new facilities opened in early 1983, consisting of a larger terminal and control tower and a lengthening of the runway—although it retained the gravel surface. The upgrades cost NOK 5.8 million; they allowed Norving to operate a daily scheduled taxi route to Hammerfest and Alta, and for the first time Hasvik was able to receive same-day newspapers. The flights corresponded with Scandinavian Airlines System's Oslo-flights at Alta Airport.