It is the fifth busiest airport in Finland, as measured by the number of passengers, approximately 235,000 in 2017.

[4] Kuopio Airport was completed in November 1939 and flight operations started in May 1940.

Kuopio had its first international scheduled route when AirBaltic operated direct flights to Riga in 2008–2011.

[citation needed] A unique airport “Lake” terminal was completed in March 2008 (at 63°00′35″N 27°47′1″E / 63.00972°N 27.78361°E / 63.00972; 27.78361).

Lake Saimaa offers a waterway connection to the cities of the Finnish Lakeland: Imatra, Joensuu, Kuopio, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Savonlinna and Varkaus.