Braathens SAFE introduced a summer scheduled service from Ørland to Trondheim Airport, Værnes in 1967, but there were not sufficient passengers to reintroduce it the following year. The Værnes route was reopened by Widerøe in 1971. A small cabin was at first used as a passenger terminal, but a larger terminal building was completed in 1978. This resulted in the airport's historical peak level of service, with four daily services. An early morning and late evening flight were provided to Værnes, where there was possibilities to transfer to north- and south-bound flights. Two more services were provided by flights which connected to the airports in Helgeland and Western Norway. The military enforced strict restrictions on civilian traffic until 1985, when the airport received national airport status.