Finavia will unveil ‘the largest development project in Finavia’s history’ at Helsinki Airport in exactly 100 days (1 December), including a new entrance and arrivals hall.

 

“The largest development project in Finavia’s history at Helsinki Airport will reach a significant milestone on 1 December,” said Henri Hansson, Finavia’s Technical Director.

 

“The airport’s new entrance and its beautiful wooden ceiling, new taxi ranks and bus station, a new parking hall, new multimodal travel centre, and the spectacular arrivals hall will be opened for passengers.”

 

Passengers can look forward to an iconic and architecturally impressive airport of the future, said the airport.

 

‘FINNISHING’ TOUCHES 

“Finnish nature and craftsmanship are present from the spectacular ceiling of the entrance to small details around the airport,” added Hansson. “The guiding principle of the billion-euro development programme is Finnishness. The domestic content of the development programme is 90%.”

 

The unique wooden ceiling completely revamps the facade of Helsinki Airport. One of the inspirations for the wavy form of the ceiling was Tapio Wirkkala’s Ultima Thule sculpture that is made of aircraft plywood.

 

Luoto, a nature-themed stone arrangement greeting arriving passengers, also breathes Finnishness. The stone arrangement brings Finnish nature and archipelago spirit to the heart of a busy terminal.

 

In 100 days, on 1 December 2021, the entrance, arrivals hall and multimodal travel centre will be opened, in addition to the new traffic arrangements and the parking halls.

 

New check-in points and a new security control area will be opened in March–June 2022. At the same time, part of the Schengen gate area will be completed.

 

In the summer of 2023, new baggage drop facilities will be completed, as well as the updating of services in the Schengen gate area.

 

The aim of the investment programme is to strengthen the position of Helsinki Airport as a hub for air traffic between Europe and Asia, said the airport operator.

 

“As Helsinki Airport has become one of the most important airports in Europe, the development of wide-body aircraft traffic and the conditions for it is one of the key goals outlined in Finavia’s investment programme.”

 

The total area of the terminal in the early 2020s will be more than 250,000sq m, about ten times the size of the Finnish Parliament Houses.