Helsinki Airport is implementing the biggest investment program in its history. The purpose of the development programme is to increase the number of flight connections, and strengthen the airport’s position as a hub connecting Europe and Asia.
“The airport expansion will help us better serve our growing passenger numbers. Improved customer satisfaction is the goal of all this construction work. We hope that both passengers and airlines find Helsinki Airport smooth and comfortable to use,” says Timo Järvelä, Vice President, Passenger Experience and Processes at Finavia.
Helsinki Airport is likely to already reach 20 million passengers this year, two years sooner than originally expected.
“We are seeking an even faster growth rate than the general market, so the extra space and capacity will be needed. With the expansion, we hope to drive our customer satisfaction levels from great to excellent.”
2018 will be a year full of construction
So what will happen next in this historic development project? One stage of the expansion has already been completed – the south pier was opened on time and within budget last July.
2018 will be a year full of construction at Helsinki Airport, and the new expansions will require a lot of work. Passengers can expect to have new facilities in use in the first half of 2019.
At the moment, the construction sites are located in areas that have no effect on passengers' mobility at the airport.
The first impacts on passengers can be expected at the earliest in late 2018, when construction will start on the new entrance to Terminal 2 and the new arrival and departure halls. Currently, Finavia is planning new traffic arrangements and pedestrian pathways.
New central plaza and west pier to be opened in 2019
In 2019, the new Plaza, which will serve non-Schengen traffic, will be opened for the public. The Plaza will include a new central square, which will offer many new services and will host events. At the same time, a new security checkpoint for Asian transfer passengers will be opened, and later on, an expansion to the border control section.
By summer 2019, the first section of the new west pier will open, including six new gates for wide-body aircraft. The rest of the pier will be finished by late 2019.
“Opening these new expansions for the public is a crucial stage, and will require close cooperation between Finavia, subcontractors, airlines, and freight companies. Taking the new facilities into use in stages offers us the chance to test them and make sure that they are safe and functional before they are put to use.”
