Helsinki Airport gets even better with new expansion

Flying from Helsinki to New York soon? Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL) recently opened a new expansion, the south pier, which will serve flights to North America and Asia.

Located at the southern part of Terminal 2, the new south pier is an expansion of what we already love about Finnish design: bright, natural light, tall ceilings, and comfortable relaxation.

Travellers consistently rank Helsinki Airport as one of Europe’s best for its variety of traveller-friendly facilities. The new expansion only enhances the airport’s offerings. Travellers can expect several types of comfortable seating, including recliners and rocking chairs, all by Finnish designers. As for the natural light, the glass surfaces throughout the south pier total 4,500 square meters!

The extension adds 8,300 new square meters of space for passengers. Large information boards in the south pier offer flight details in many languages, depending on the destination country.

The pier also takes into account one particular group of travellers: Asian passengers are the fastest-growing segment of travellers to and from Helsinki Airport. The airport added new dispensers that offer both cold and hot water for free. While cold water is pretty common in modern airports, the addition of hot water reflects an essential part of daily life for many Asian travellers.

The south pier is the first part of a larger expansion at Helsinki Airport. The next piece is the central plaza, set to open in early 2019. The plaza will become the main area for all long-haul passenger flights. Later that year, the west pier will expand on many of the same amenities in the south pier, including more moving walkways. When completed, the overall expansion plan will add 103,000 square meters to the airport.

Looking at the photos, we spy a few nice new beds and comfortable recliners- perfect for a nap on your layover. What do you think about this expansion?