Travel updates

2 April 2020, last updated 8 April 2020

The coronavirus epidemic has had a severe impact on the demand for air travel, and several countries have set restrictions for travelling. We have transitioned to a limited network and cancelled the majority of our flights temporarily as of 1 April until the situation improves. We have now cancelled flights until the end of June. We are operating a limited traffic plan on 1 April – 30 June 2020.

You’ll see the list of flights to be operated in April-June here.

Please note that we will operate this traffic plan provided that there are no travel restrictions set by the authorities. If the situation improves, we will do our best to add flights and routes to our traffic plan. We aim to return to a normal traffic plan as soon as possible and will tell about it, when we know more.

We are extremely sorry about the disruption and uncertainty this situation causes you. We follow the situation closely and will update any new information on this page.

WHEN YOUR FLIGHT IS CANCELLED ON 16 MARCH - 30 JUNE

• When your flight is cancelled, we’ll contact you personally via SMS and/or e-mail. Please go to Manage booking and check that we have your current contact information.
• You can change your travel dates until 30 November 2020 without a change fee by contacting our customer service. You can change your travel dates if
  • You made your booking via Finnair channels.
  • You have a Finnair operated and marketed flight.
  • There are available seats on your chosen new flight.
  • You make the change before the departure of your original flight. Please note that you need to select new dates for your travel when making the change. 
  • Please note that the change in the ticket rules doesn’t apply to Finnair Holidays, Aurinkomatkat (Suntours) and other tour operators’ customers.
  • If you have a group reservation, please contact your travel agency.
• Did you change your travel dates already once and would like to change them again? You can do it through Manage booking and travel until 30 November 2020 when the above listed requirements are fulfilled.
• You can apply for a refund for the unused part of your flight ticket just by filling in this online form. When any of the flights in your booking (for example only the return flight) has been cancelled, you can apply for a refund for all the unused flights on the same ticket. You can also choose a Finnair gift voucher as a refund option, when you have paid your ticket fully with money, meaning through online banking or credit card. We, unfortunately, have delays in the refund processing because of high refund application volumes. Our average handling time is approximately 8 weeks.
• If your flight is cancelled but you still want to travel, we do our best to re-route to your destination with other Finnair flights. Please note that the availability of alternative flights is very limited at the moment.

YOUR OPTIONS IF YOUR FLIGHT IS OPERATED ON 1 APRIL – 30 JUNE

• You can change your travel dates through Manage booking without a change fee and travel until 30 November, 2020, if
  • You booked your flight before 1 April 2020.
  • You made your booking via Finnair channels. 
  • You have a Finnair operated and marketed flight. 
  • There are available seats on your chosen new flight. 
  • You make the change before the departure of your original flight. Please note that you need to select new dates for your travel when making the change. 
  • Please note that the change in the ticket rules doesn’t apply to Finnair Holidays, Aurinkomatkat (Suntours) and other tour operators’ customers. 
  • If you have a group reservation, please contact your travel agency.
  • If you have purchased your ticket partly with Finnair Plus points or you have upgraded your flight with money or a tier benefit, please contact our customer service to change your travel dates.
• If you are not able to travel because of current travel restrictions, you can cancel your booking at Manage booking and then apply for a refund through this form. In other cases, if we haven’t cancelled your flight but you wish to cancel your reservation, refund will be according to the ticket rule. 

CONTACTING OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE

If you booked your ticket through a travel agency, please contact them to make changes to your reservation or to apply for a refund. Our customer service is working hard to help you in this extremely exceptional situation. We are at your service also on Twitter @FinnairHelps, on our Facebook pages and via chat on finnair.com. We are sorry if our customer service is congested.

TRAVEL EXTRAS

If you purchased a travel extra and change your travel date, we will move the travel extra to your new flight if possible, otherwise, you can apply for a refund online for an undelivered service. Also, if your flight is cancelled, you can apply for a refund for any travel extras you had purchased and didn’t receive. 

You can see your passenger rights here.

1 April 2020

We currently have delays in the refund handling due to a high volume or coronavirus related refund applications. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this may cause you and are working hard to shorten the handling time. 

Our average handling time is approximately 8 weeks. We’ll inform you via email after your refund application is processed. Please send your request only once, as duplicates will further delay handling the applications.

When you apply for a refund for your unused flight ticket due to the coronavirus situation, you can choose to have your money back to your bank account or credit card or a Finnair gift voucher. With the gift voucher we give you additional value – the value of the gift voucher is 10% more compared to the money back option. We sent you the gift voucher within 4 weeks.

Read more about refunds here.

1 April 2020

Due to the coronavirus situation, we want to offer you flexibility for making reservation changes and have updated our ticket change policy. This means you can now make also new bookings during April with peace of mind.

You can change your travel date flexibly without a change fee, if

• You made your booking on 1-30 April 2020.
• You booked your ticket through Finnair channels.
• You have a Finnair operated and marketed flight.
• There are available seats on your chosen new flight.
• You make the change 7 days before the departure of your original flight. Please note that you need to select new dates for your travel when making the change. If you change your travel dates closer to your flight, the change conditions follow your original ticket rules.
• Please note that the change in the ticket rules doesn’t apply to Finnair Holidays, Aurinkomatkat (Suntours) and other tour operators’ customers.
• In case you would like to cancel your booking, refund will be according to the original ticket rules.

It is good to know that if there is no availability in your original fare class for your new flight, you need to pay the fare difference between your original and new flight tickets.

If you purchased a travel extra and change your travel date, we will move the travel extra to your new flight if possible, otherwise it is eligible for a refund.

This is how you can change your travel date

• Go to Manage booking and select new available dates for your travel.
• You can also contact our customer service. We are sorry if our customer service is congested.
• If you have purchased your ticket partly with Finnair Plus points or you have upgraded your flight with money or a tier benefit, please contact our customer service to change your travel dates.
• If you have a group reservation, please contact your travel agency.

We are at your service also on Twitter @FinnairHelps, on our Facebook pages and via chat on finnair.com. 

You can check your passenger rights here.

1 April 2020, last updated 2 April 2020

Did you book your flight on 9-31 March and would like to change your travel dates? You can change your travel dates free of charge and travel until 30 November 2020, if

• Your travel date is latest on 30 November 2020.
• You booked your ticket through Finnair channels.
• You have a Finnair operated and marketed flight.
• There are available seats on your chosen new flight.
• You make the change before the departure of your original flight. Please note that you need to select new dates for your travel when making the change.
• Please note that the change in the ticket rules doesn’t apply to Finnair Holidays, Aurinkomatkat (Suntours) and other tour operators’ customers.
• In case you would like to cancel your booking, refund will be according to the original ticket rules.

If you purchased a travel extra and change your travel date, we will move the travel extra to your new flight if possible, otherwise it is eligible for a refund.

This is how you can change your travel date

• Go to Manage booking and select new available dates for your travel.
• You can also contact our customer service. We are sorry if our customer service is congested.
• If you have purchased your ticket partly with Finnair Plus points or you have upgraded your flight with money or a tier benefit, please contact our customer service to change your travel dates.
• If you have a group reservation, please contact your travel agency.

We are at your service also on Twitter @FinnairHelps, on our Facebook pages and via chat on finnair.com. 

You can check your passenger rights here.

31 March 2020

Helsinki Airport renews to offer you an even smoother travel experience in the future. As of 1 April, we renew our services in the airport departure hall. Due to the ongoing construction work, there are also changes in the airport’s traffic and parking arrangements. Please note that we have made changes to our airport and lounge services also due to the coronavirus situation, you can read more about these from above.

Changes in the departure hall services

As of 1 April 2020, we will renew our services in the departure hall at Helsinki Airport. To ensure smooth service, we have simplified and combined services of our different service desks in the departure hall.

You get the smoothest start for your journey by making any reservation changes or purchasing tickets or travel extras, like upgrades or extra baggage, in advance through Finnair.com or our customer service. We no longer have a separate desk for these services at the airport, but our crew at other desks are at your service with these matters, if you wish. Please make any changes latest 60 minutes before your flight departure, so that we can ensure you will make to your flight with no hassle.

Special Assistance Desks in the departure hall help customers with special needs and if you need to make last minute changes to your reservation. As a Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo, Platinum, Gold and Silver member or our Business Class customer you can visit our Priority Desks.

Our guides at Helsinki Airport help you with any travel related questions. The fastest way for check-in is to do it through our website or Finnair app already before arriving the airport or by using the self-service check-in kiosks at the airport. You can leave your bags through self-service bag drops in the departure hall. Please print the bag tag at a check-in kiosk before leaving the baggage in the self-service bag drop. Self-service bag drops 207-211 are open all day.

If your flight was cancelled and you have been rerouted to your destination, you may be able to choose an alternative flight yourself through Manage booking. If you want to do the change with our agent at the airport, our agents at the Special Assistance, Priority or Transfer Desks will help you.

As of 1 April, we accept only debit or credit card payments at Helsinki Airport for the time being. For your and our ground crew’s wellbeing during the coronavirus situation, we reduce direct contact between our customers and crew and can’t accept cash payments.

Changes in traffic and parking arrangements during the airport renewal work

• If you arrive at the airport by taxi or someone drops you off at the terminal, the right place for this at Terminal 2 is on the arrivals level. Please note that cars can stop only briefly in front of the terminal to avoid congestion. If you wish to accompany someone into the terminal or pick someone up, please use the short-term parking area in P3.
• The taxi station serves customers on the ground floor of the terminal. To get to the new taxi station, customers can take the escalators or an elevator in the Arrivals hall 2A near Burger King restaurant.
• The bus station is currently in front of the Scandic hotel.
• Parking halls P1 and P2 are closed. You can use parking halls P3 and P5. Short-term and premium parking will be in P3.

The renewal of Helsinki Airport will be completed in 2022. Find out more at Finavia’s website.

26 March 2020, last updated 2 April 2020

Travelling to/from Uusimaa in Finland will be restricted from 27 March to 19 April, 2020 and you are no longer allowed to cross the Uusimaa border without very good reason which include work, returning to officially-registered residences, or caring for a vulnerable individual. We continue to operate domestic flights in Finland with restrictions to ensure important flight connections in Finland. Below you’ll find instructions for what to do, if you have a domestic flight during the time of travel restrictions. We are sorry for any inconvenience this situation may cause you.

IF YOU HAVE A DOMESTIC FLIGHT ON 27 MARCH – 19 APRIL BUT YOUR TRAVEL IS NOT NECESSARY

• You can change your travel dates through Manage booking without a change fee and travel until 30 November, 2020, if
  • You made your booking via Finnair channels. 
  • You have a Finnair operated and marketed flight. 
  • There are available seats on your chosen new flight. 
  • You make the change before the departure of your original flight. Please note that you need to select new dates for your travel when making the change. 
  • Please note that the change in the ticket rules doesn’t apply to Finnair Holidays, Aurinkomatkat (Suntours) and other tour operators’ customers. 
  • If you have a group reservation, please contact your travel agency.
  • If you have purchased your ticket partly with Finnair Plus points or you have upgraded your flight with money or a tier benefit, please contact our customer service to change your travel dates.
• You can cancel your booking at Manage booking and then apply for a refund for the unused part of your flight ticket by filling in this online form. We, unfortunately, have delays in the refund processing because of high refund application volumes. Our average handling time is approximately one month.

IF YOUR DOMESTIC FLIGHT ON 27 MARCH – 19 APRIL IS CANCELLED

• You can change your travel dates until 30 November 2020 without a change fee by contacting our customer service or your travel agent. Please make the change before the departure of your original flight. You need to select new dates for your travel when making the change. 
• You can apply for a refund for the unused part of your flight ticket just by filling in this online form. We, unfortunately, have delays in the refund processing because of high refund application volumes. Our average handling time is approximately one month.
• If your flight is cancelled but you still want to travel, we do our best to re-route to your destination with other Finnair flights. Please note that the availability of alternative flights is very limited at the moment.

CONTACTING OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE

If you booked your ticket through a travel agency, please contact them to make changes to your reservation or to apply for a refund. Our customer service is working hard to help you in this extremely exceptional situation. We are at your service also on Twitter @FinnairHelps, on our Facebook pages and via chat on finnair.com. We are sorry if our customer service is congested.

You can see your passenger rights here.

You can read more about the travel restrictions here.

18 March 2020, last updated 8 April 2020

The Finnish authorities will tighten border controls in Finland between 19 March and 13 May 2020. In practice, this includes the following:

• Border controls will be reinstated on all intra-Schengen routes
• Helsinki Airport, as well as airports of Turku and Mariehamn, will be kept open for returning customers and cargo flights. All other airports will be closed from international traffic.
• Foreigners who are currently in Finland are allowed to exit the country
• Finnish nationals are recommended not to travel abroad. Nationals and residents returning to Finland are asked to stay in quarantine at home for 14 days
• Your travel documents will be checked on all Finnair flights to or via Helsinki

You are allowed to enter Finland if you are:

• A national of Finland
• A family member of a national of Finland (provided that you are entitled to enter and stay in Finland)
• Holder of a valid Finnish residence permit
• EU national who is registered as staying in Finland 

As an EU national and a holder of EU issued residence permit, you are allowed to return to your EU country of residence via Finland. However, if you show any signs of illness, your entry may be denied.

Non-EU nationals who are leaving the Schengen area via Finland can return to their country of residence via Finland, e.g. Japanese nationals travelling from Paris to Tokyo via Helsinki.

Travel from a non-Schengen country to another non-Schengen country is allowed via Helsinki. However, you should be travelling to your country of residence and remain in the non-Schengen transit area of Helsinki Airport. You must be eligible to enter your destination, taking into consideration any possible coronavirus related restrictions of the destination.

Some exceptions to the above restrictions may be granted for essential work-related travel to e.g. immigration authorities, health professionals, transportation sector and diplomats, but we are still waiting for further details on the exceptions from the Finnish authorities.

14 March 2020, last updated 19 March 2020
  
The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew are a top priority for us. Due to the coronavirus situation, we are making changes to our in-flight services on all routes gradually as of 13 March to reduce direct contact between our customers and crew. There are also changes in the airport services at Helsinki Airport, and we will close our lounges at Helsinki Airport for the time being.

Changes in in-flight meal and beverage service

Nordics, Baltic countries, Russia and Innsbruck

• In Business Class, we will serve you a water bottle.
• In Economy Class, we will have no meal or beverage service on these flights for the time being. We will serve water on request.

Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary and Czech Republic

• In Business Class, we will serve you a water bottle and a sandwich. We cannot accommodate special diets.
• In Economy Class, we will serve you a water bottle and cookie.
• Unfortunately, we can’t deliver pre-order meals to these flights. You can apply for a refund for an undelivered meal through this online form.

Canary Islands, Funchal, Dubai, Hurghada and Alanya

• In Business Class, we will serve you a water bottle and a sandwich. We cannot accommodate special diets.
• In Economy Class, we will serve you a water bottle and sandwich.
• Unfortunately, we can’t deliver pre-order meals to these flights. You can apply for a refund for an undelivered meal through this online form.

Intercontinental flights

• In Business Class, the meal and beverage service is lighter than usual. Only special diet meals are available to be selected in advance.
• In Economy Class, the meal and beverage service is lighter than usual. Only special diet meals are available to be selected in advance.
• We cannot accommodate special diets on repatriation flights.

 
Duty-free or pre-order shopping will not be available on any flights.
 

Changes in airport services, Finnair lounges will be closed

We are making changes to our airport services to reduce direct contact between our customers and ground crew. This is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew. We ask you to show your travel documents to our check-in agent instead of handing them over. Our crew will continue to assist you at the check-in kiosks but without touching the screens. If you printed your bag tag from a kiosk, we kindly ask you to attach it to your bag yourself.

In addition, we will discontinue the Helsinki Airport Fast Track service and the car service for Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo members as of 1 April, 2020.

We will close our lounges at Helsinki Airport. Finnair Platinum Wing in the non-Schengen side will be closed as of 18 March, and Finnair Business Lounge in the non-Schengen area and Finnair Lounge in the Schengen area will close their doors as of 19 March.

Please note that changes in our partners’ service offering and opening hours of lounges at other airports are also possible due to the coronavirus situation.

7 February 2020, last updated 14 February 2020

Due to the current outbreak of coronavirus, there are entry and transit restrictions in place in many countries.

We recommend that you visit the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) website for more information, or alternatively contact the embassies of the countries to/via which you plan to travel, especially if you have visited China in the last 14 days, or travel on a Chinese passport.

Limitations in Finnair app check-in

Due to coronavirus related travel restrictions to some of our destinations, there are limitations in Finnair app check-in currently. Please complete your check-in on our website, if you can’t complete it in Finnair app.