Planica to be modernized: Letalnica ski flying hill approved for upgrades enabling jumps up to 270 meters

Slovenia’s Council of Ministers has approved a €2.69 million investment to enlarge the iconic Letalnica ski flying hill in Planica. The project will be financed by the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport and is scheduled to be completed by December 2027.

According to the government, the upgrade is part of the national development plan for 2025–2028 and will completely reprofile the hill to meet the latest safety and technical standards while enabling longer flights. Key improvements include a more aerodynamic hill profile, a modern snowmaking system, new safety railings, and a full replacement of wind-protection nets. The modernization is also tied to a broader development program for north‑western Slovenia.

Planica Nordic Centre director Jelko Gros welcomed the decision. He noted that the FIS this year increased the maximum allowable vertical drop from the take‑off table to the hill’s lowest point from 135 to 140 meters. Planica prepared a redesign proposal based on the new rules, which the government has now approved. Gros estimates the changes could extend jump distances by 13–15 meters compared to today, potentially allowing flights of up to around 270 meters.

Planica, opened as a year‑round modern complex in December 2015, includes eight ski jumps, cross‑country trails, football pitches and a museum. It hosted the 2023 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Historically, Planica is a cradle of ski jumping: the 100‑meter barrier was first surpassed there in 1936 and the 200‑meter mark in 1994.

In 2024, Domen Prevc reclaimed the official world record for Slovenia with 254.5 meters at Letalnica, eclipsing Stefan Kraft’s 253.5 meters set at Vikersund in 2017. The longest distance ever flown on skis—291 meters by Ryoyu Kobayashi in 2024 on a specially built temporary hill in Iceland—remains unofficial.

Officials say the project’s goal is to strengthen Planica’s status as a world‑leading ski jumping venue.