Finland's Largest Airport: A Comprehensive Overview

what the biggest airport in finland

Finland has 27 airports, serving both domestic and international destinations. The largest airport in Finland is Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, located about 17 kilometres north of the capital city of Helsinki. The airport consists of two terminals and is designed for a capacity of around 20 million passengers per year, although it has exceeded this capacity several times. About 90% of Finland's international air traffic passes through Helsinki Airport, which is also the fourth busiest airport in the Nordic countries in terms of passenger numbers.

Characteristics Values
Name Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
Other names Helsinki Airport, Helsingfors-Vanda flygplats
IATA code HEL
ICAO code EFHK
Operator Finavia
Number of terminals 2
Number of runways 3
Location Vantaa
Distance from Helsinki city centre 9.2 NM (17.0 km; 10.6 mi)
Annual passenger capacity 17 million
Number of airlines 50
Number of scheduled destinations 80
Number of direct long-haul routes to Asia, the Middle East, and North America 21
Number of charter destinations 35
Number of parking spaces 13,000
Awards Best Airport in Northern Europe (2024)

shunhotel

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is the largest international airport in Finland

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is by far the busiest airport in Finland, with 20 times the traffic of the next busiest airport, Rovaniemi. About 90% of Finland's international air traffic passes through the airport. In 2023, the airport saw a total of 15.3 million passengers, with 88% of those being international travellers and the remaining 12% domestic. On average, the airport handles around 350 departures per day.

The airport consists of two terminals, which first opened in 1952 and 1969, respectively, and have been modernised several times since. The airport is designed to handle around 20 million passengers per year but has exceeded this capacity on several occasions. Despite this, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is known for its efficiency and high security standards, receiving the "Best Airport in Northern Europe" award seven times in a row, most recently in 2024.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport serves as a hub for several airlines, including Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, as well as Norwegian Air, SAS Scandinavian, Lufthansa, Air France, and British Airways. The airport offers flights to numerous destinations throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. In addition to its flight services, the airport also features a variety of dining options, ranging from sit-down restaurants serving various cuisines to fast-food outlets and snack bars.

shunhotel

The airport is located 17km north of Helsinki, the capital of Finland

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, located 17km north of Helsinki, is the largest international airport in Finland. It is also the main international airport serving Helsinki, the capital of Finland, as well as its surrounding metropolitan area, and the Uusimaa region in Finland. The airport is located in the neighbouring city of Vantaa, about 5 kilometres west of Tikkurila, the administrative centre of Vantaa. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is by far the busiest airport in Finland, with 20 times the traffic of the next busiest airport in the country, Rovaniemi.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport consists of two terminals, with Terminal 1 opening in 1952 and Terminal 2 in 1969. Both terminals have been modernised several times since then. The airport is designed for a capacity of around 20 million passengers per year, and in 2023, it had a total of 15.3 million passengers, with 88% of them being international passengers and 12% domestic passengers. On average, the airport handles around 350 departures a day. The airport is known for its efficiency and high security standards, receiving the "Best Airport in Northern Europe" award 7 times in a row, with the most recent award in 2024.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is the main hub for Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, and its subsidiary, Nordic Regional Airlines. It is also a hub for CityJet, which operates on behalf of SAS, and serves as an operating base for several other airlines, including Norwegian Air Shuttle, Jettime, Sunclass Airlines, and TUI fly Nordic. In total, the airport has around 50 regularly operating airlines, serving flights to 80 scheduled destinations in Europe and 21 direct long-haul routes to Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

The airport covers a total of 1,800 hectares of land and contains three runways. It offers a wide variety of food options for travellers, including sit-down restaurants, fast-food outlets, and snack bars. There are also several hotels located near the airport, such as the Radisson Blu Hotel, which offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport. Additionally, there are regular bus services, such as bus line 600, that provide connections to the Helsinki Central railway station and other railway stations in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

shunhotel

It has two terminals, both of which have been modernised several times since their opening

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, located about 17 kilometres north of Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is the largest airport in the country. It is the main international airport serving Helsinki and its surrounding metropolitan area, as well as the Uusimaa region. The airport is operated by the state-owned Finavia and covers a total area of 1,800 hectares, containing three runways.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport has two terminals, both of which have been modernised several times since their opening. Terminal 1 was opened in 1952, coinciding with the 1952 Summer Olympics hosted by Helsinki. Terminal 2 was opened seventeen years later, in 1969. The airport has a designed capacity of around 20 million passengers per year, but it has exceeded this number several times. In 2023, the airport handled a total of 15.3 million passengers, with 88% being international travellers and the remaining 12% being domestic. On average, around 350 departures take place at the airport each day.

The airport is well-connected to the city of Helsinki and its surrounding areas. The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (HSL) provides a regular bus service, bus line 600, to Helsinki Central railway station and other railway stations in the metropolitan area. Matkahuolto and ExpressBus offer coach connections to various destinations across Finland. Additionally, there are daily bus connections to Helsinki Airport from Turku and Tampere. For those travelling by car, the airport provides approximately 13,000 parking spaces.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is known for its efficiency and high security standards. It has consistently received the "Best Airport in Northern Europe" award, winning it seven times in a row, with the most recent award in 2024. The airport is particularly popular due to its fast transfer times. It serves as a hub for several airlines, including Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, which is the largest airline at the airport. Other major airlines operating at the airport include Norwegian Air Shuttle, Scandinavian Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, and British Airways.

shunhotel

The airport is designed for a capacity of 20 million passengers per year

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, located about 17 kilometres north of Helsinki, Finland's capital, is the country's largest international airport. It is also the main hub for Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, and its subsidiary, Nordic Regional Airlines. The airport is designed to handle 20 million passengers per year and is known for its efficiency and stringent security standards. It has won the "Best Airport in Northern Europe" award seven times in a row, most recently in 2024.

The airport has two terminals, the first of which opened in 1952 and the second in 1969. Both terminals have been renovated and modernised several times since then to accommodate the growing number of passengers. In 2023, Helsinki Airport served a total of 15.3 million passengers, with 88% being international travellers and 12% domestic. On average, the airport handles approximately 350 departures each day.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport offers flights to a variety of destinations worldwide. Finnair, the largest airline at the airport, provides flights to destinations in Europe, Asia, and North America. Other major airlines operating at the airport include Norwegian Air, SAS Scandinavian, Lufthansa, Air France, and British Airways. Additionally, low-cost carriers such as easyJet, Wizz Air, and Aegean Airlines also serve the airport, providing flights to various European destinations.

The airport is easily accessible via public transportation. The Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (HSL) provides a regular bus service, bus line 600, from the airport to Helsinki Central railway station and other railway stations in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Matkahuolto and ExpressBus offer coach connections to all parts of Finland. Additionally, there are daily bus connections to the airport from Turku and Tampere.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport also offers a range of dining options for travellers, including sit-down restaurants, fast-food outlets, and snack bars. The restaurants serve a variety of cuisines, including Finnish, Asian, Mediterranean, and American. Popular choices include Chef's Plate, O'Learys, and Gastropub Nordic Kitchen. Fast-food options include McDonald's, Subway, and Burger King, while coffee shops and snack bars such as Starbucks, Paul, and R-kioski are also available.

shunhotel

It is the main hub for Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland

Helsinki Airport (IATA: HEL, ICAO: EFHK), or Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is the largest airport in Finland. It is located in the city of Vantaa, about 17 kilometres (11 miles) north of the centre of Helsinki, the country's capital. The airport is operated by state-owned Finavia and has two terminals, with plans to expand to a third. It is the main hub for Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, as well as its subsidiary, Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra).

Finnair is the largest airline at the airport, with 32 airlines operating and serving flights to 88 destinations. It offers flights to destinations throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. The airline has focused on long-haul flights and operates a modern fleet. Finnair is also the leading airline in Finland, with a total of 104 flight destinations. The airline has lounges at Helsinki Airport, which offer various services and amenities for passengers, such as comfortable seating, food and drinks, Wi-Fi, and shower facilities.

As the main hub for Finnair, Helsinki Airport plays a crucial role in connecting Finland with the rest of the world. Finnair's presence at the airport strengthens Helsinki's position as the main international gateway to the country. The airline's focus on long-haul flights and modern fleet contribute to the airport's ability to accommodate a large volume of passengers and maintain its efficiency and high security standards.

In addition to Finnair, Helsinki Airport serves as a hub for several other airlines, including CityJet, Jettime, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Sunclass Airlines, and TUI fly Nordic. The airport has around 50 regularly operating airlines and provides flights to numerous destinations worldwide. It is known for its fast transfer times, and about 90% of Finland's international air traffic passes through it.

The efficient operations and high security of Helsinki Airport have been recognised through awards and accolades. It has received the "Best Airport in Northern Europe" award seven times in a row, most recently in 2024. The airport also provides essential employment opportunities, with around 25,000 jobs, and serves as a base for 1,500 companies.

Frequently asked questions

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, also known as Helsinki Airport, is the largest airport in Finland. It is located about 17 kilometres north of the capital, Helsinki, and consists of two terminals.

Helsinki Airport has a capacity of about 17 million passengers annually, but this number was passed in 2016. In 2018, the airport served almost 21 million passengers.

Helsinki Airport has several lounges available for passengers in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. These lounges offer a range of services, including comfortable seating, food and drinks, Wi-Fi, and other amenities. There is also a Radisson Blu Hotel located just minutes away from the airport, offering a complimentary shuttle service.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment