Finavia to increase automatic functions at Finland’s airports

Finavia to increase automatic functions at Finland’s airports

Finavia Corporation, the managing body of 25 airports located in Finland, is investing in making the travel experience for passengers smoother by adding more automatic functions to its airports.

Developments have already begun at Helsinki Airport with the installation of self-service points, designed to make departures more convienent and faster for passengers as traffic numbers continue to increase. The machines also enable airport security staff to focus on other tasks within the airport.

Marko Tikkanen, vice president at Finavia, said, “Using the machines requires that we help the customers – self-service releases more staff for personal service, such as problem-solving. This improves the service for passengers who need help and instructions.”

A total of 52 self-service machines are located in Helsinki’s check-in lobbies, which travellers can use to check-in to the airport. Afterwards, passengers can go straight to security control or the baggage drop-off point.

SAS and Norwegian airlines use fully automated bag drop points within Helsinki, which passengers can use to check-in luggage themselves. The process is straight-forward and requires the passenger to place their bag on the conveyor belt, take the reader device and point it at the luggage label, printed beforehand at the check-in machine. The label is then attached to the bag and once a verification sound has emitted, the belt will start moving.

Finavia intends to install more automatic bag drop machines at the airport in the near future.

"We will review expanding bag drops and self-service travelling rights, as well as ticket inspection at the security check and at the gate," Tikkanen added.

Helsinki’s security check area has also recently been automated with the introduction of a self-service check-in line. The pilot scheme sees passengers enter a glass-walled line in the 240–271 check-in area of Terminal 2. Security staff are still at hand throughout the trials and will continue to be needed regardless of the machines. If successful, the scheme may be rolled out to other security check points in the airport. Finavia also has plans to expand automatic functions to its other airports.