History tour

Travel through Helsinki Airport's 70-year history.

 

Helsinki Airport's Awards and Acknowledgements.

 

Significant years

1940s

the planning of a new airport for Helsinki began in the late 1940s, when it became obvious that the old airport at Malmi could not handle the increasing number of passengers or the new, heavier aircraft.

1950

contruction of Helsinki Airport began at a site 20 kilometres from Helsinki city centre in an area that today belongs to the city of Vantaa.

1952 

Helsinki Airport opened on 10 July for the summer Olympic Games.

1956

second runway opened

1956

first radar system installed

1969

new passenger terminal opened

1973

first security checks on international flights

1983

passenger terminal extension completed

1993

new Domestic Flights Terminal opened

1996 

International Terminal enlarged and Domestic Terminal connected to International Terminal, new shopping arcade, hotel and congress centre opened

1997

new VIP President Terminal opened for guests of state

1998 

Helsinki Airport voted the world's best for the first time

1999 

new arrival and departure halls opened in the International Terminal

2000

total passenger number exceed 10 million for the first time

2001 

introduction of new Schengen passport control points

2002 

third runway opened

2004 

expansion of the International Flights Terminal and opening of a new shopping area for long-haul passengers

2009

expansion of Terminal 2, a new shopping area and a spa was opened for passengers on long-distance flights, the division between domestic and international flights was removed, Terminal 1 was renovated to be used for international flights

2013 

development programme for expanding the airport was launched

2016 

the first projects under the development programme were finalized: parking P5 was expanded, 12 new gates and 3 000 new square meters in terminals.

2021 

the new extension of Terminal 2, part of Finavia’s development programme, was opened to passengers at the beginning of December. The terminal’s stunning new departures and arrivals halls, new travel centre and modern parking facility are now open.

2022

from June, all passengers at Helsinki Airport arrive and depart via one terminal. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 became a thing of the past.