Helsinki Airport Unveils Further Expansion Plans

In early 2016, the current terminal building at Helsinki Airport will be extended by adding a south wing to the airport’s non-Schengen gable.

After completing the south wing during summer 2017, a brand new west wing will be built next to the south wing.

The number of jet ways will also be doubled. The expansion will enable a more seamless and comfortable travel experience, as the need for bus transfers decreases and the capacity of the luggage facilities increases.

The terminal extension is expected to complete by summer 2020.

“Travel between Europe and Asia is expected to increase swiftly within the coming years. To strengthen Helsinki Airport’s position as one of the top junctions between Europe and Asia, we need to develop our services and operations even further,” said Kari Savolainen, CEO of Finavia.

Although the terminal extension will bring nearly 50% more floor space to Helsinki Airport, the goal is to keep distances short and services easily attainable.

“Helsinki Airport’s biggest strengths are short layover times, friendly staff, short distances and world-class services. We will strive to hold on to these as we expand and prepare to welcome even more traffic. Finnish feel is what is unique to us, and all the development work will be done with this in mind,” said airport director Ville Haapasaari from Finavia.

New elements of Finnish design have already been introduced to the airport in 2015. Renowned Finnish designer Stefan Lindfors redesigned one of the airport’s arrivals halls, bringing Finnish flora and fauna among the arriving passengers. The new Arctic bar features a roofless outdoor terrace, open year-round for passengers to experience the Finnish weather whether it is snowing, sleeting or the sun is shining. Introducing a Finnish innovation, GoSleep pod, to its passengers Helsinki Airport became the first in Europe to introduce such service at an airport.

Along terminal extension, new services are being designed for Helsinki Airport. In addition to shops and cafes, the development programme will introduce even more experiential services and new digital services in order to smooth the journey. In the future passengers will, for example, have the opportunity to order services such as freshly made coffee or jet lag massage, to their departure gates as they wait for boarding.