Finland’s first low cost air terminal opened for air
traffic and passenger use at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport in April
2003. The CAA offered the new terminal concept as an option
alongside the traditional model, to expand its services as
planned.
Located in a renovated former cargo terminal, it is operated
by Airpro Oy, a CAA subsidiary that also provides services
for passengers and airlines at ten other airports in Finland.
The cheaper fares enabled by the low cost concept result from
pruning traditional services. For example, passengers take
care of their luggage as far as possible themselves. And to
save costs, the entire Airpro staff are trained for multiple
tasks. Officials rotate according to passenger flows, from
security inspection to the information desk or the check-in
point.
The biggest client of the low cost terminal is the Irish budget
airline, Ryanair, which began flying from Tampere to Stockholm’s
Skavsta in 2003. In October 2003, Ryanair opened its Tampere-London
route and early in 2004, the Skavsta route was switched to
the Tampere-Frankfurt (Hahn) route. Two thirds of the passengers
are Finnish.
“We have gained experience from Tampere and the example
has been encouraging. The cost-effective concept has been
well received,” says Airpro Oy’s managing director,
Jarkko Varjo. “The benefit is passed straight on to
passengers and they are happy. The new terminal concept and
cheap air connections make it possible to stimulate tourism
in the Tampere region and make the airport more profitable.”
“These operations aimed at a new target group have got
off to a great start and passenger numbers 20 have risen enormously.
More than 15,000 passengers use the terminal each month,”
says the terminal’s manager, Anne Puustjärvi, gleefully.
