Finavia, which manages 21 airports in Finland, says its airports handled 26 million passengers in 2019. However, growth in air traffic was more moderate than previous years, at 4.2 percent.
In 2019 21.9 million passengers used Finavia Helsinki Airport. It is both Finland’s biggest international airport and the largest airport Finavia manages. The overall increase in passenger numbers at Helsinki was 4.9 percent. By comparison, passenger numbers at Finavia’s other airports rose to 4.2 million. This was an increase of 0.6 percent.
Of Finavia’s bigger airports, Torku saw the greatest increase in passenger numbers (22.6 percent). Rovaniemi Airport added 2.6 percent, while 1.5 million passengers (+1.5 percent) travelled through Finavia airports in Lapland in 2019.
Oulu Airport saw a decrease in passenger numbers (-3.6 percent). Tampere Airport also saw a decrease (-2.5 percent). This was due to a reduction in the number of flights.
Passenger Transfer Numbers
Helsinki Airport saw an increase in the number of transfer passengers (+16.7 percent). The greatest number of these international transfers came from flights to and from Germany, Japan, China and Sweden. In 2019 38.6 percent of all passengers at Helsinki were transfers.
Petri Vuori, Finavia Vice President, Sales and Route Development, said:Helsinki Airport is still very successful in attracting passengers. Asian transfer passengers form a significant user group at Helsinki Airport as Finland’s geographic location between Asia and Europe is ideal for transfers. During the 2020 summer season, 53 weekly flights to China and 45 weekly flights to Japan will be operated from Helsinki Airport. The smooth travel and the high quality of customer service give us a competitive advantage. For example, many services are available in Chinese both at the airport and in our digital environments.
Helsinki Airport in 2020
A lot of construction work will take place at Helsinki Airport in 2020. The new P1/P2 car park will open by autumn 2020. Construction has begun on the new entrance to the airport, as well as the arrivals and departure halls. New shops and restaurants will also open in the gate area in spring.
