FINLAND/CHINA. Finnish airport operator Finavia and Capital Airports Holding Company (CAH), the largest airport operator in China, yesterday (7 January) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a sister airport relationship (MOU).
The MOU, signed in Beijing, establishes extensive collaboration between Finavia Corporation and CAH, the first action being a sister airport agreement between Helsinki Airport and the biggest airport in Asia, Beijing Capital International Airport.
The deal will offer an important boost to commercial operators at Helsinki Airport, notably World Duty Free (Dufry), which is driving an impressive overhaul of the retail proposition. As reported, World Duty Free formally launched 11 retail operations at the airport last month, following the completion of its third and final tax and duty free store in November.
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Chinese travellers currently make up just 5% of the airport’s passengers but a whopping 30% of World Duty Free sales in the main T2 non-Schengen store, so any increase in Chinese travellers will have a disproportionately positive impact on duty free.
Finavia is the first European airport operator to conclude such an agreement with CAH. The MOU allows both parties to strengthen and develop the connection between Finland and China and, in particular, between Helsinki and Beijing.
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An impressive 30% of sales at World Duty Free’s main 1,280sq m walk-through store in the T2 non-Schengen zone are to Chinese travellers |
The MOU will be a key contributor to Helsinki Airport’s target to be the number one transfer airport for passengers flying between Europe and Asia, Finavia said. Helsinki Airport is already the leading transfer airport in Northern Europe for long-haul traffic and it connects Europe and Asia with the shortest route. Helsinki’s terminal expansion plan, part of a €900 million development programme aimed at strengthening the airport’s credentials as a transit hub, is scheduled to begin early this year.
Measured by the number of flights to Asia, Finland’s main airport is the fifth-largest airport in Europe. Helsinki Airport currently provides connections to over 130 destinations, including 17 direct routes to Asia and further destinations to almost all major European cities.
“We value highly the establishment of a sister airport relationship with Finavia,” said Beijing Capital International Airport Co (BCIA) President and CEO Liu Xuesong. “We see Finavia as one of the leading and most competent airport groups. Helsinki Airport is a leading hub between China and Europe due to the shorter flying distance and MCT (minimum connecting time), as well as its first-class performance in safety, security and customer service. We look forward to our cooperation.”
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Officials (including above) Finavia Corporation CEO Kari Savolainen and Beijing Capital International Airport Co (President and CEO Liu Xuesong) celebrate the new airport accord |
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“Cooperation with the largest airport operator in China is no doubt a remarkable milestone for us,” said Finavia Corporation CEO Kari Savolainen. “It will contribute to the attractiveness of both operators’ airports and to the development opportunities of the Finland-China routes.
“For Helsinki Airport, it represents an outstanding opportunity to develop a competitive edge regarding the Asian and especially the Chinese market in comparison to other airports in Northern Europe.”
The “sisterhood” strengthens the relationship between the two countries and airports in many ways, Finavia noted. The objectives of the cooperation are benchmarking best practices and sharing knowledge, creating co-marketing activities in respective home markets, exchanging personnel and building competence. The staff exchange activities between Helsinki Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport are expected to begin this year.
“The smooth air bridge between Europe and Asia brings foreign tourists to Finland where tourism has significant growth potential,” said Savolainen. “According to statistics recently published by the Finnish Hospitality Association, the number of Asian tourists in Finland is currently increasing. For instance, the number of Chinese visitors staying overnight has increased substantially.”
Finnair, Helsinki Airport’s home carrier, connects Helsinki and Beijing by offering a daily long-haul service with the Airbus A350 aircraft. It also operates a direct flight between Helsinki and Chongqing Airport, also managed by CAH.
“We have already done a great deal in order to make transfer via Helsinki smooth and comfortable for our Chinese customers,” said Savolainen.
“Our website, mobile app and signage are available in Chinese and we have Chinese-speaking personnel at the airport, for example. We are looking forward to exchanging ideas and best practices with both CAH and BCIA in order to improve services for Asian and European passengers even further.”
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Getting ready for 20 million passengers
As reported, Helsinki Airport is going through an extensive €900 million development programme during which Finavia will produce a range of new services while integrating digitalisation into the renewed customer experience through the use of the latest technologies.
In December 2015, a new milestone was reached when the annual passenger volume exceeded 16 million for the first time in the history of the airport. Thanks to the terminal extension created by the development programme, the airport will be able serve 20 million passengers annually in 2020.
