Relax at the airport – in Finavia's rocking chairs

Most people are familiar with the soothing effect of a rocking chair. At the airports in Vaasa, Turku, Oulu and Kittilä, Finavia has now introduced rocking chairs where passengers can relax before boarding their flights. In autumn, a unique resting area will be launched at Helsinki Airport.

“Airport gate areas are places where all of our customers spend at least some time, and sometimes longer, before boarding their flights. We were thinking about ways in which to make that time more comfortable and to offer passengers a little me time at the airport,” says Johanna Metsälä, Customer Experience Manager at Finavia.

At four of Finavia's provincial airports, the answer was a row of rocking chairs.

“We decided to test the response to traditional rocking chairs,” Metsälä says. “The experiment with these rockers will continue to the end of the year. Based on customer feedback, we will then decide if we will keep them.”

Easy chairs and sleeping spots for passengers at Helsinki Airport

Even at Helsinki Airport, Finavia works continuously to improve the passenger experience. Together with Vantaa Innovation Institute, Finavia is currently building a new rest area for passengers at the airport.

The rest area provides three different options for resting and relaxation. 

Passengers can choose between different kinds of easy chairs, and a separate, closed space with sleeping spots; the first of these will be introduced in early September.

“The rest area is an excellent addition to the services at Helsinki Airport, especially for transit passengers. It will be a coherent and peaceful zone for relaxation while waiting for your flight,” says Vice President Marko Tikkanen from Finavia.

Located next to Gate 31, the rest area will first be launched as a pilot project, and passengers are requested to submit feedback to develop the new service. The style is of Finnish nature and design, created by six Finnish SMEs, which, for the first time, combine their products and services into a well-functioning package.

Passengers are welcome to submit feedback on both the rest area and the rocking chairs via Finavia's website, on Facebook www.facebook.com/finavia or www.facebook.com/helsinkiairport or on Twitter @FinaviaOyj and @HelsinkiAirport.

Finavia endeavours to make Helsinki Airport a superbly comfortable and attractive airport and thereby strengthen the airport's position as Northern Europe's leading transit airport.

In spring 2013, Helsinki Airport received the title of Best Airport in Northern Europe in the World Airport Awards. Moreover, the airport did very well in the Airport Service Quality survey, which measures air passenger satisfaction: according to the results Helsinki Airport had improved its services in almost all of the themes included in the survey. The positive trend seems to continue this year.