Finavia Corporation sign loan agreement with European Investment Bank

Copyright: EIB

Finavia Corporation has signed a €150 million loan agreement with European Investment Bank (EIB) for phase four of Helsinki Airport’s (HEL) expansion plans.

Included in this is the extension of Terminal 2 with new arrival and departure halls, new gates, increased border control capacity and better connections to public transport and taxi services.

Alexander Stubb, European Investment Bank Vice-President said: “HEL never freezes, and neither does its traffic. Helsinki Airport probably has some of the most extreme conditions of any major international airport and it’s nothing short of amazing how Finavia deals with this, while smoothly transiting millions of passengers per year. The EIB’s backing will allow the airport to cope with the expected increase in passenger numbers in a rational and sustainable way. We’re very proud to support this.”

The expansion is expected to limit bottlenecks in the Schengen area, as well as between the airport and the rail, bus and taxi services. The loan will also fund the expansion of the baggage handling system and passport control areas, aiming to make the passenger experience smoother and easier. With these expected developments, the airport’s capacity is expected to rise from 17 million passengers yearly to approximately 30 million.

The loan will contribute to multiple developments within the airport itself. A new departures hall will be constructed, fitted with 76 check-in desks, along with a new arrivals hall. Airside developments will include expanding the border control area to introduce 24 additional passport check lines and 20 automated kiosks for both arrivals and departures. The bus and taxi areas will be remodelled, with a new tunnel connecting to the ring rail connection. New parking facilities will also be developed, making 1,800 parking spaces available.

Kimmo Mäki, CEO of Finavia Corporation, said: “As the number one networked hub in the Nordic region, our aim is to offer passengers good and smooth connections worldwide. We want to stand out by providing an exceptionally good customer experience and sustainable operations at Helsinki Airport.”