Helsinki Airport in Finland has been recognized as the best connected airport in Northern Europe by ACI’s Airport Industry Connectivity Report 2017.
Helsinki was rated the 12th highest in Europe, and first in Northern Europe, for offering a wide network of destinations and handling a high proportion of transit passengers.
Kari Savolainen, CEO at Finavia, the airport operator, said, “In recent years, Helsinki Airport has strengthened its position as a significant air traffic hub. This is largely due to our appeal in the wider Baltic region and the growth in transit traffic between Europe and Asia. Finland’s growing popularity as a holiday destination is also a significant factor. Connectivity is highly significant for Finland’s competitiveness and provides an added edge for businesses based here.”
In this year’s analysis, Helsinki Airport’s hub connectivity index measured 9,982, representing growth of 96% in the last decade. The airport’s closest rival in Northern Europe was Copenhagen Airport with 5,404 index points and ranked 15th overall. Oslo Airport was ranked 17th with 3,868 index points. However, both Oslo and Copenhagen attract higher passenger volumes than Helsinki Airport.
Measured by the number of flight connections, Helsinki Airport is Europe’s fifth largest flight hub between Europe and China. In addition, Helsinki Airport offers more direct flight destinations to Japan than any other European airport. In total, airports operated by Finavia offer more than 200 flight connections to destinations all over the world.
“There isn’t a country in the world that doesn’t want a well-connected air traffic hub. There are several places in Europe that simply lack that, and these countries run the risk of getting left behind. At Finavia, we will continue our determined efforts to improve Finland’s connectivity. Right now, we are in active discussions with a number of airlines on new routes and the opportunities the Finnish market represents,” added Savolainen.
The Airport Industry Connectivity Report’s top spot was claimed by Frankfurt Airport in Germany, with 69,930 index points. Schiphol airport in Amsterdam came second with 56,535, followed by Paris-Charles de Gaulle (47,217), Istanbul (33,908) and London Heathrow (32,437).
European and North American airports offer the best connectivity in the world. However, the airports showing the fastest increases in connectivity over the past 10 years are in the Middle East and Asia, notably China.