Helsinki Airport Development Programme moves forward faster than planned due to the low passenger volumes
In 2020, a total of 5 million (2019: 21.9) passengers travelled from Helsinki Airport, of which 4 million on international routes. The number of passengers at Helsinki Airport fell by a total of 77 per cent from the previous year. In spite of the COVID-19 crisis, Finavia has decided to continue Helsinki Airport Development Programme.
International transfer travel, which has enabled the airport's rapid growth in recent years, fell by 80 per cent. The number of passengers with connecting international flights was 713,000 (3,571,900).
The number of passengers at Finavia's 21 airports remained at a record low in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During 2020, airports served a total of 6,4 million passengers, which is almost 20 million less than in the previous year. The number decreased by 75 per cent compared to 2019.
In spite of the COVID-19 crisis, Finavia has decided to continue Helsinki Airport Development programme. Finavia has systematically sought to establish a leading position for Helsinki Airport in the international competition between transfer airports. The Helsinki Airport Development Programme is a strategic long-term investment.
The aim of the Development Programme is to strengthen the already strong position of Helsinki Airport in both the international competition between airports and as a significant airline hub between Europe and Asia. When finished the Development Programme will allow the airport to serve 30 million passengers annually.
At the moment, the extension project of Terminal 2 is moving forward, and it will be followed by renovations of the existing premises. Initially, the renovation of the current terminal was not to start until 2022, but because of the current situation, the schedule has been updated so that the renovation starts in January 2021.
“We will focus on ensuring safe and smooth travel and completing the Helsinki Airport Development Programme. We want to be ready when the virus is under control and the world reopens. We strongly believe that travel will improve again once the COVID-19 situation is under control globally. Completing the Helsinki Airport Development Programme may give us an advantage over our competitors,” says Vuori.
Finavia’s investment programme in brief
- Terminal floor area increased by 45% (103,000 m2). The total area of the terminal in 2024 will be more than 250,000 m2.
- More bridge gates to wide-body aircrafts: 100% increase
- More luggage handling capacity: 50% increase
- More passport control capacity: 50% increase
- Renovated apron area (aircraft parking areas and taxiways) amounts to 450,000 m2, corresponding to an area of around 90 football fields.
- A new multimodal travel centre, linking different modes of transport.
- More parking spaces: 4,800 parking spaces (Extension to Car park P5 and a new parking garage)
- Finavia’s investment: approximately EUR 1 billion
Finavia Corporation
Communication
Finavia Media Desk
comms@finavia.fi
+358 20708 2002
Finavia manages and develops 21 airports in Finland. We offer the best long-haul connections in the Nordics and enable smooth travelling between Europe and other parts of the world. Our ground-breaking work in developing passenger experience, our sustainability and our snow-how are all recognised as being among the best in the world, and all of our airports are carbon neutral. In 2019, our corporate revenue totalled MEUR 389 and the number of employees was 2,775. Our work at Finavia brings the world closer together.