Connecting flights

Easy transfer at Helsinki Airport

We want you to transfer to your next destination smoothly and conveniently. At Helsinki Airport, all gates are located in one terminal building, along the same short walkway. This means you can be confident that you'll reach your connecting flight fast and hassle-free. At best, changing flights takes just 35 minutes!

The departure time and gate number of your connecting flight will be displayed in the Finnair mobile app and on the airport monitors. The monitors also display how long it will take you to get to your gate, and signs will help you navigate there. If needed, you can ask the Transfer Service desk for further assistance.

At Helsinki Airport, the Transfer Service desks are located near gates 29 and 52.

If you do not have a boarding pass for your connecting flight, you can pick one up at the Transfer Service or the departure gate.

If your baggage is tagged to your final destination, it will be transferred automatically. You can check where your baggage is tagged to on your baggage tag.

If your baggage is not tagged to your final destination, you must collect it from the baggage carousel in the baggage claim area. You should then check in your baggage for your connecting flight at the bag drop desk – you may also have to go through customs.

If you are arriving from or travelling to a non-Schengen country, you need to go through passport control. Citizens of the EU, Scandinavia and Switzerland holding biometric passports can skip lines by using the airport's fast and convenient automatic border control machines. Nationals of Japan and South Korea may use these gates during afternoon hours when leaving to non-Schengen destinations.

Fly via Helsinki! Designed to be spacious and cosy for all travellers, our home hub Helsinki Airport is a perfect place to recharge before continuing your journey. Read more about Helsinki Airport services on Finavia’s website.

Prepare for border and security controls

Depending on your origin and destination countries, you may need to go through a border and/or security control at Helsinki Airport when transferring to your connecting flight. Kindly reserve some extra time to proceed to the gate of your connecting flight.

The need for security and border controls depends on whether your transfer takes place between Schengen or non-Schengen countries. Please see the table below for information on whether you will need to go through security and passport checks.

Learn more about security checks.

Transfer from–to	Original departure country	Security check	Passport check at border control
From Schengen area to Schengen area	Any Schengen area countries
From Schengen area to non-Schengen area	Any Schengen area countries		✓
From non-Schengen area to Schengen area	EU-countries that do not belong to Schengen, UK, US, Singapore		✓
From non-Schengen area to Schengen area	Any non-Schengen countries not mentioned above	✓	✓
From non-Schengen area to non-Schengen area	EU-countries that do not belong to Schengen area, UK, US, Singapore
From non-Schengen area to non-Schengen area	Any non-Schengen countries not mentioned above	✓

Minimum connecting times

The minimum connecting times for transfers apply only when all flights have been issued on the same ticket. If you have flights on separate tickets, you need to reserve a significantly longer time for your transfer.

Transfer times at Helsinki Airport are short compared to other major European airports. Connecting times for other airlines and destinations may vary.

You can see your connection time when buying flights and later in the Finnair mobile app and Manage booking on our website.

Minimum connecting times starting from 27 October 2024

The following minimum connecting times at Helsinki Airport apply to flights booked on or after 10 September 2024 for travel on or after 27 October 2024.

Flights via Helsinki Airport	Estimated minimum connecting time
Flights within Finland	35 minutes
Flights within the Schengen area	35 minutes
Flights within the non-Schengen area	40 minutes
Flights from the non-Schengen area to the Schengen area	45 minutes
Flights from the Schengen area to the non-Schengen area	40 minutes
Charter flights to any other flight	75 minutes

Minimum connecting times until 26 October 2024

The following minimum connecting times at Helsinki Airport apply to flights flown before 27 October 2024, and to flights booked before 10 September 2024 (regardless of travel dates).

Flights via Helsinki Airport	Estimated minimum connecting time
Flights within Finland	35 minutes
Flights within the Schengen area	35 minutes
Flights within the non-Schengen area	40 minutes
Flights from the non-Schengen area to the Schengen area	40 minutes
Flights from the Schengen area to the non-Schengen area	35 minutes
Charter flights to any other flight	75 minutes

If you miss your connecting flight

Should you miss the connecting flight because your previous flight arrived late, you will receive information about your new flight from the Finnair app or through SMS.

If you miss your connecting flight because you weren’t able to arrive at the gate on time, please talk to our agent at the gate or ask for instructions at the transfer desk.

See our page about what to do in case of disruption for more information.