The expansion of Helsinki-Vantaa’s international terminal
for non-Schengen, especially the growing Asian, traffic, began
in May 2003. The work will add an extra 4,500 m² of space
to the terminal by the end of 2004.
The extension is being built particularly for transit passengers
at the airport. Swelling Far Eastern traffic is bringing passengers
to Helsinki-Vantaa who then continue on to other parts of
Europe. New passport inspection points in the extended section
will speed up border crossing, so it will be possible to provide
faster transfer times. The new construction will also provide
the separate channels required under EU security regulations
for departing and arriving non-Schengen passengers.
A separate hall is being built next to the extension to cope
with the extra baggage traffic and security checks, and should
be ready by the autumn of 2004. The hall will enable quicker
and more effective intermediate baggage checks (between one
aircraft and another).
The International Terminal expansion is the CAA’s biggest
current building project, costing about 21 million euros.
