Air traffic reaches its peak on 22 and 23 December

Air traffic is expected to reach its peak on Thursday 22 December and Friday 23 December. Passengers are asked to arrive at the airport in good time. On Thursday and Friday, passengers should be at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport at least half an hour before the check-in time indicated by the airline. The traffic is also heavy on Christmas Eve (24 December) until 10.30 am after which it will slow down.

Both the Domestic and the International Terminals are open as usual during Christmas and New Year. Some of the stores, cafés and restaurants are open during limited hours or closed for the season. The traditional Christmas programme will delight passengers at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in the afternoon until Christmas Eve. Finnair Singers will perform on Tuesday 20 December. The Sibelius Academy musical duo can be heard on Wednesday 21 December and Thursday 22 December. On Thursday afternoon, passengers can enjoy a performance by Qoro Quando. The departure gate area features Christmas trees decorated by young Finnish designers. Petri Vainio, Jani Martikainen and Anne Paso have each decorated their own design-tree and passengers can vote for the one they like best.

Passengers going on ski holidays are reminded that ski wax removers and ski lubricants in aerosol cans are flammable and may not be carried aboard aircraft. Fireworks are not allowed aboard either and passengers preparing to celebrate the New Year should purchase fireworks at their destination. Prohibited substances include flammable and combustible substances, as well as corrosive and toxic substances. These substances are readily identifiable by a flame or skull symbol on the package.

Arrival and departure times are also available on Finnish Broadcasting Company's teletext pages 425-427 and MTV3 teletext pages 600-605. You can also call the Civil Aviation Administration Information, tel. +358 200 14636 (0.57e/min+lcc) or send a text message with the flight number on +358 16124 (1.04 e/text message).

source: The Civil Aviation Administration