Our Review of Helsinki Airport (HEL)

Our Review of Helsinki Airport (HEL)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides, since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this Guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Helsinki Airport (HEL)

Pros

• Efficient Layout and Navigation: Helsinki Airport is praised for its well-designed terminal layout, making it easy for passengers to navigate and connect between flights. All gates and services are located under one roof, facilitating smooth transfers
• High Customer Satisfaction: Helsinki Airport consistently ranks high in customer satisfaction surveys, winning several awards for its excellent service quality and customer experience in its size category
• Modern Facilities and Renovations: The airport has undergone significant renovations, including the expansion of shops, restaurants, and modernized baggage logistics. These improvements have contributed to increased passenger satisfaction
• Priority Services for Business Travelers: Helsinki Airport offers dedicated check-in counters, priority security lines, and lounge access for business travelers, enhancing their travel experience
• Convenient Location and Accessibility: Located just 17 km from Helsinki city center, the airport is easily accessible by train, bus, or taxi, making it convenient for both domestic and international travelers.

Cons

• Strict Security Checks: Some passengers have reported that security checks at Helsinki Airport can be overly strict and time-consuming, leading to missed flights due to long queues
• Occasional Chaos During Renovations: Past construction work has caused confusion and inconvenience for some travelers, though these issues have largely been resolved with the completion of major renovations
• Unfriendly Staff Encounters: A few passengers have reported unfriendly interactions with airport staff, particularly during security checks
• Limited Feedback on Some Facilities: Some travelers have noted that certain facilities, like toilets, were not well maintained during periods of renovation
• Queue Times During Peak Periods: During peak travel times or when security regulations change, queue times can become excessively long, causing stress for travelers.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, located 17 km north of Helsinki city center, is Finland’s largest and busiest airport, serving over 16 million passengers annually as of 2024. Renowned for its efficiency, modern facilities, and high customer satisfaction ratings, it is a key hub for both domestic and international travel.

Key Features

• Terminals: The airport has two terminals—Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights. These terminals are connected by a covered walkway, ensuring smooth transitions for passengers.
• Transportation: Helsinki Airport is easily accessible via train, bus, and taxi services. The train station is directly connected to the terminal, offering quick access to Helsinki city center in just 30 minutes.
• Facilities: The airport boasts a wide range of amenities, including modern shopping areas, restaurants serving Finnish and international cuisine, duty-free stores, and comfortable lounges for business travelers. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport.
• Awards: Helsinki Airport has won multiple awards for its service quality and passenger experience, ranking among the best airports globally in its size category.

Tips for Travelers

• Arrive Early: While the airport is efficient, security queues can be long during peak hours or holiday seasons. Arriving early ensures a stress-free experience.
• Use the Mobile App: Download the airport’s app for real-time flight updates, navigation assistance, and parking information.
• Explore Finnish Design: Take time to browse shops featuring Finnish brands and enjoy local delicacies at the restaurants.
• Relax in Lounges: Business travelers can enjoy priority services and access to premium lounges with comfortable seating and refreshments.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport combines efficiency with comfort, offering a seamless travel experience for passengers connecting to Europe or long-haul destinations like Asia or North America. Whether you’re visiting Finland or passing through on a layover, this airport provides everything you need for a smooth journey.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Helsinki Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Helsinki Airport (last month)