Safety and security

Finavia’s safety operations include air traffic safety and the security of passengers and baggage.

Air traffic safety is taken care of by airport maintenance and the air navigation service. Finavia is responsible for passenger and baggage security checks in accordance with international security regulations. The security checks ensure that no objects or substances that could endanger a flight are carried onto an aircraft .

The Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for air safety and public authority tasks for civilian aviation, monitors that the security programmes and regulations that have been set are complied with at Finavia’s airports. The EU also audits security checks at airports in Finland.

“The security checks are carried out in line with the EU’s security regulation that came into force four years ago,” explains Finavia’s head of security Tuomo Kivikari.

A new EU regulation entered into force during the November of the year under review concerning the transportation of liquid products in the passenger cabin. The new regulation restricts the volume of liquids allowed to be carried onboard as hand luggage and aims at preventing the threat of liquid explosives from being used for terrorist acts.

“So that the security checks flow flexibly and smoothly in spite of the increased requirements, we have set up new security check points and increased the number of personnel at Helsinki-Vantaa and Oulu airports, among others.”

At Helsinki-Vantaa, Finavia has invested in a system that helps the staff analysing images remain vigilant when working with the x-ray devices.

“Despite the increased security costs over the last few years, the cost for the security check paid by a passenger in Finland, around EUR 4.50 per ticket, is less than the European average,” says Mr. Kivikari.

Mr. Kivikari believes that the focus on the safety culture within Finavia has begun to bear fruit. Security matters are considered to be important and as part of the everyday operations.

“New security regulations, drawn up taking into account large airports with signifi cant operations, can on the other hand sometimes seem frustrating at small regional airports. During 2007, we intend to update the airports’ security programmes whereby each airport will determine the regulations to be complied with together with the Security unit.”