A major power outage struck the Romerike region on Tuesday afternoon, affecting up to 34,000 households at its peak and disrupting operations at Oslo Airport Gardermoen.
According to grid operator Elvia, the outage was caused by a fire in a regional power mast, first reported at 16:20. Emergency crews were dispatched to isolate the fault, and by early evening, the number of affected households had been reduced to around 22,000. The fire brigade confirmed it was investigating reports of flames near power infrastructure, but stated there was no immediate danger to the public.
Oslo Airport was without normal power for about an hour, Avinor confirmed. Backup systems supplied electricity to critical operations, allowing air traffic to continue, though delays were expected. Non-critical systems were affected, leaving parts of the terminal dark and causing disruptions to baggage handling and retail operations. Lighting was gradually restored using emergency power solutions by around 17:40.
Ground transport was also impacted. The airport express train was cancelled between Oslo Central Station and Gardermoen, with passengers transferred by taxi and replacement buses. In addition, a signal fault at Gardermoen led to reduced train operations between Lillestrøm and the airport, resulting in further delays and cancellations.
Airlines, including Norwegian, reported ongoing delays and said passengers were being kept informed. Travellers inside the terminal described a calm but subdued atmosphere, with limited lighting and several baggage belts out of service.
Authorities continued work into the evening to stabilise both the power grid and transport systems, while passengers were advised to monitor airline and rail operator updates closely.
