Helsinki airport set for terminal changes
Published: 04/08/2009 - Filed under: News »
From Wednesday August 5, all Star Alliance member airlines will move into Terminal 1 at Helsinki-Vantaa airport, while Oneworld flights will arrive and depart from Terminal 2. The split into domestic and international terminals at Finland’s busiest airport will end, with the Domestic Terminal being renamed Terminal 1 and the International Terminal being renamed Terminal 2.
As a Oneworld member, Finland’s flag carrier Finnair will operate its domestic and international flights out of Terminal 2. UK sales director Tomi Hanninen explained the benefits: "After the move, Finnair check-in and departure gates will be much closer to each other. Distances from one to the other will be cut in some cases from as much as a kilometre to as little as several dozen metres. Finnair staff and facilities will serve our customers under a single terminal roof.
“Helsinki airport already offers a very fast and efficient transfer for UK passengers travelling to Asia. These new changes will enable all passengers travelling through Helsinki to benefit from fast transit times.”
Check-in for most Finnair flights will be in the biggest hall of T2 (check-in area 201-232), while check-in for Finnair's intercontinental flights departing between 1200 and 1900 will be in Departure Hall 4 (check-in area 411-419).
Terminal 2 has seen a renovation of its security check area and an extension to the building, with new departure gates now open. Fly Inn restaurant has closed for refurbishment and will reopen in October.
Star Alliance members SAS and Blue1 (an SAS member airline based in Finland) will relocate to Terminal 1, along with 10 other airlines including Austrian Airlines, LOT, Lufthansa, TAP Portugal and future member Brussels Airlines.
As part of the move, a refurbishment of Terminal 1 will be completed next year, with more check-in points added, a remodelled baggage and customs area, a new border control checkpoint, a renovated restaurant and café, and a shopping arcade.
In October, SAS will open a new business lounge in Terminal 1 in the gate area and a separate Fast Track security check for Blue1 and SAS business passengers will be launched in the autumn.
Due to the changes and the construction work at Helsinki-Vantaa, passengers are advised to arrive in good time to the airport during the coming months. To check which terminal airlines are currently operating from, click here.
Visit staralliance.com, oneworld.com, flysas.com, finnair.com
Report by Sara Turner
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