Helsinki’s “magnificent” new entrance to T2 to open on December 1

Finavia today reminded the world that the “magnificent new entrance” to Terminal 2 at Helsinki Airport will open to passengers on December 1 – exactly 100 days from now.

The new entrance, which will lead to new traffic arrangements to the terminal, is the largest development project in Finavia’s history.

“The airport’s new entrance and its beautiful wooden ceiling, new taxi ranks and bus station, a new parking hall, new multi-modal travel centre, and the spectacular arrivals hall will open for passengers on December 1st,” enthuses Finavia’s technical diector, Henri Hansson.

According to Finavia, when it does, “passengers can look forward to an iconic and architecturally impressive airport of the future”.

Finnish nature an inspiration for architecture

“Finnish nature and craftsmanship are present from the spectacular ceiling of the entrance to small details around the airport,” notes Hansson.

“The guiding principle of the billion-euro development programme is Finnishness. The domestic content of the development programme is 90%.”

The unique wooden ceiling completely revamps the facade of Helsinki Airport. One of the inspirations for the wavy form of the ceiling was Tapio Wirkkala’s Ultima Thule sculpture that is made of aircraft plywood.

Luoto, a nature-themed stone arrangement greeting arriving passengers, also breathes Finnishness, insists Finavia, noting that “the stone arrangement brings Finnish nature and archipelago spirit to the heart of a busy terminal”.

The multi-modal travel centre as a transport hub

The urban travel centre, which will be completed at Helsinki Airport, is a hub for different modes of transport, to which air traffic will be connected.

“Finavia’s goal is to continuously develop better connections to the rest of the world. It is important that all modes of transport are seamlessly linked at the airport and that passengers can use the new travel centre to continue their journey using both local and long-distance buses, trains, taxis or private cars, not forgetting bicycles,” says Hansson.

At the same time, new parking arrangements will also be introduced when the new parking hall P1/P2 opens. This will create 1,800 new parking spaces and 200 new charging stations for electric cars at the airport in the immediate vicinity of the terminal.

Terminal 2 extension will open in three phases

In 100 days, on December 1, 2021, the entrance, arrivals hall and multimodal travel centre will be opened, in addition to the new traffic arrangements and the parking halls.

New check-in points and a new security control area will be opened in March–June 2022. At the same time, part of the Schengen gate area will be completed.

In the summer of 2023, new baggage drop facilities will be completed, as well as the updating of services in the Schengen gate area.

The aim of the investment programme is to strengthen the position of Helsinki Airport as a hub for air traffic between Europe and Asia.

As Helsinki Airport has become one of the most important airports in Europe, the development of wide-body aircraft traffic and the conditions for it is one of the key goals outlined in Finavia’s investment programme.