In winter conditions, many airport operations are performed more slowly to ensure safety even in challenging weather. The entire airport community works continuously together to make sure departures and arrivals run smoothly.
In winter conditions, anticipation and planning are essential to maintain the smooth flow of air traffic. When forecasts predict challenging weather, preparations begin at the airports.
Finavia owns 20 airports in Finland. At Lapland airports, winter conditions started already in November, while airports in Southern Finland are still awaiting the first significant snowfalls. Winter conditions generally continue at Finnish airports until March or April. At Lapland airports, winter conditions and winter operations extend further into spring than at airports in Southern Finland.
Finavia is responsible for clearing runways, and during heavy snowfall, a runway may need to be ploughed twice within an hour. When a runway is being cleared, it is not available for air traffic, meaning aircraft must wait either in the air or at their parking stands. At busy airports such as Helsinki Airport, the number of departing and arriving flights may need to be reduced in challenging weather, which can cause delays. Closing a runway due to weather conditions is extremely rare in Finland, but this measure will be taken if necessary to ensure safety. Typically, runway closure is considered when freezing drizzle and supercooled water make runway surfaces extremely slippery.
Air traffic may also need to be restricted due to very strong winds or slipperiness. In addition, during the winter season, aircraft require de-icing and engine thawing before departure. In all airport operations, ensuring safety is the most important factor. It is normal for heavy snowfall, gusty winds, and other challenging weather conditions to cause delays to air traffic. Finavia and airport communities at all Finavia airports do their utmost to make travel safe and smooth.
Instructions for Passengers
We ask passengers to actively follow their airline’s passenger communications for up-to-date information. When weather conditions affect air traffic, other modes of transport are usually also impacted. To ensure a smooth start to your journey, we ask passengers to allow sufficient time to reach the airport so that parking, check-in, baggage drop, security screening, and any border checks can be completed without rush.
During very heavy snowfall, operations on the apron slow down. This may cause delays in baggage delivery, as transporting baggage from the apron to the terminal is slower due to snow. Airlines are always responsible for baggage, and we ask passengers to contact their airline if there are any issues related to baggage delivery. Service points related to baggage delivery are located in the baggage claim hall. In addition, many airlines advise passengers to fill in an electronic form if there are problems with baggage delivery. The electronic form is usually available on the airline’s website.
