Helsinki Airport to be first European hub to receive Airbus A350

October 7, 2015

Helsinki Airport is to be the first home airport in Europe to receive the Airbus A350 XWB when it arrives today.

The aircraft will land at Helsinki Airport and will be celebrated with the traditional water salute. The water cannons of the airport’s fire trucks will draw a high arch, under which the aircraft will glide on the taxiway.

The gateway’s director at Finavia, Ville Haapasaari, says: “The landing of the A350 is a wonderful opportunity for us because we are the first European airport to act as a home airport for the new aircraft.”

The A350 boosts growth at Helsinki Airport and Finavia is implementing a massive development programme at the gateway.

Finavia chief executive officer, Kari Savolainen, says: “Air traffic between Asia and Europe is expected to grow exponentially in the next few years. We need to improve all of the functions and services of Helsinki Airport in order to keep up with the competition.”

James Graham

James Graham is an award-winning transport media journalist with a long background in the commercial freight sector, including commercial aviation and the aviation supply chain. He was the initial Air Cargo Week journalist and retuned later for a stint as editor. He continues his association as editor of the monthly supplements. He has reported for the newspaper from global locations as well as the UK.