and the only to offer direct flights to Oslo. There are seven regional airports in the region, but these are mostly limited to other destinations in Northern Norway and require change of aircraft at Bodø Airport to reach Oslo, except from some weekly direct flights to Oslo with Widerøe. There is a significant leakage to Evenes from Lofoten and Vesterålen to Harstad/Narvik for flights to Oslo. These are estimated at forty-five percent for Vesterålen and twenty percent for Lofoten. Passenger Cargo Statistics Air force base The Evenes Air Station, situated adjacent to the airport, is a forward air station in Norway operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force. This air station is the home of the 333 Squadron. Ground transport Evenes is located by road (40 minutes) from Harstad, (50 minutes) from Narvik, (1:40 hours) from Sortland, (2:05 hours) from Stokmarknes, from Svolvær and to Leknes. There are direct airport coaches to Harstad, Narvik and Sortland; other parts of Vesterålen and Lofoten are served with scheduled buses operated by Boreal Transport. The airport has 1,000 paid parking spaces; car rental and taxis are also available. Future The air force has started upgrading Evenes Air Station for the F-35 from 2021. The air station will have a capacity for stationing a QRA of 15 fighter aircraft, as well as handling exercises with allied aircraft. The air station is estimated to produce 1,600 aircraft movements per year once operative. The government has also proposed that new Maritime Patrol Aircraft shall be co-located with F-35 at Evenes Air Station. Evenes will also be strengthened with the establishment of dedicated base defence units and long-range air defences. Andøya air station that currently serves as base for Norway's Maritime Patrol Aircraft, is slated for closure. Avinor plans to expand the runway safety area in 2014. Narvik Airport, Framnes closed in 2017, based on the opening of the Hålogaland Bridge. The bridge will reduce the travel distance by road from Narvik to the Evenes by and 20 minutes. Avinor is planning to build a new primary airport to serve Lofoten and possibly also Vesterålen. Two locations have been put forward, Gimsøya () and Hadselsand (). Gimsøy has after a thorough investigation been deemed unsuitable as the site for a new airport due to high wind turbulence. Hadselsand would have direct services to Oslo, resulting in reduction of leakage to Evenes. Independent of the airport plans, there