The Finnish airport operator Finavia has announced on 13th January 2021 that the first phrase extensive renovation will begin from the departure lounge of Helsinki Airport’s Terminal 2.
The project covers approximately 35,000m2. It is part of the Helsinki Airport development programme and the extension of Terminal 2. The renovation will completely revamp the existing departure lounge and arrivals hall as well as integrate them into the gate area and centralised baggage claim hall.
Finavia’s Project Manager of the Terminal 2 extension project, Tuomo Lindstedt says,
“We are able to start the renovation work one year in advance, as the number of passengers and flights has decreased significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this way, passengers will also be able to enjoy the new facilities earlier than planned,”
In addition to the renovation work, the terminal is currently being expanded by 42,000m2. In the new terminal area, there will be an impressive main entrance to be opened in 2022, as well as a new departure lounge and arrivals hall.
Jani Ceder, Finavia’s Head of the operations centre at Helsinki Airport, says that, due to the renovation starting in the departure lounge, the check-ins of Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and KLM, among others, will be moved to the airport’s main lobby next door. In this way, all check-in and security control service points for Helsinki Airport’s flights will be located in one place from 18 January. Due to decreased traffic volumes, Terminal 1 flights have already been relocated to the same check-in area.
“Fortunately, the slightly more limited queuing spaces are only temporary, as we will open more passenger space in June. The floor renovation will then be completed, and the closed facilities will be partially reopened as a connecting bridge,” says Ceder.
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 €1 billion
Click here to read more about Dublin Airport’s Terminal 1’s major facelift.
Credit: Finavia
