Finavia invests in the functionality of Helsinki Airports traffic areas

In the renovation, a substantial part of the airport's traffic areas will be re-paved. The goal of the traffic area renovation is to ensure smooth, flexible and safe air traffic at Helsinki Airport. The total value of the investments is about 15 million euros.

"Helsinki Airport has strengthened its position as the leading transit airport in Northern Europe for travel between Europe and Asia. In 2011, the airport had the highest number of passengers ever. Finavia wants to do its part in keeping the main airport of Finland in a good condition and that it provides optimal and effective services for domestic and international air traffic," says Henri Hansson, director of business operations at Finavia.

The renovation in Helsinki Airport's traffic areas will begin in late March and will continue until the autumn. The investment includes the re-paving of runway 3, and modifications in the area of runway 2. In addition, more than 1,000 lights and related cables will be replaced in the traffic area.

Due to the works, there will be changes in the use of Helsinki Airport's runways during the rest of the spring and the summer when some runways will be closed for specific periods. Based on a current estimate, the runway closures will cause some delays in Helsinki Airport's flights as from April. In addition, the temporary changes in the use of the runways will cause aircraft noise in some exceptional areas.

"This is a massive investment, and there is no alternative to implementing it if we want to keep Finland's vital traffic node in good shape. We will do everything we can to implement the modifications as fast as possible, and that they would cause minimal disruption to air traffic and our neighbours," says Hansson.

Finavia will communicate the matter in more detail during the spring when the plans are specified further and there is more information available on the impact of the work. Finavia also have a separate website intended for residents, where they can monitor the works' impact on runway use.