From 1993 Widerøe started replacing these with the larger de Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft, but had to keep one Twin Otter in operation past 1995 because it could not land on the gravel runway at Båtsfjord.

[6] Båtsfjord was considered for inclusion in the state-financed regional network, but skipped when it proved difficult to find a suitable location.

The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) was skeptical to such operations, citing the terrain hindrances by the location in the valley of Båtsfjorddalen.

Permission was granted following municipal investments of NOK 2.5 million and Norving could start scheduled flights in 1978 with their eight-passenger Britten-Norman Islanders.

[11] After the airline fell into financial difficulties, negotiations between it, Widerøe and the government were initiated regarding subsidies for the route.

In November 1988 Norving was offered 10 million Norwegian krone (NOK) in annual grants for the flights to Båtsfjord and Hasvik Airport, but this was insufficient to save the airline.

[12] On 2 February 1990 the ministry announced that Widerøe would take over all subsidized routes in Finnmark, including Båtsfjord.

[14] The Ministry of Transport and Communications announced in February 1993 that they were considering taking over ownership and operations of the airport through the CAA.

[15] In December Widerøe articulated that Båtsfjord Airport did not meet the demands for future operation as it lacked proper instruments and did not have an asphalt runway.

In April 1994 the ministry stated that they were considering closing many of the smallest regional airports, including Båtsfjord.

The various propositions culminated in April 1995 when Parliament decided to nationalize twenty-six regional airports owned by their respective municipalities.