Security inspection queues still long at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

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Even though last week’s chaos has abated, passengers departing on international flights from Helsinki-Vantaa airport are still advised to prepare for long lines at security inspection points.
      During Friday’s morning rush period, the security inspection process went smoothly as passengers had apparently arrived earlier than usual. Furthermore, a number of tourists were on their way to holiday resorts, typically arriving at the airport earlier than business travellers do.
      On the other hand, Friday is expected to be the busiest day of the year, notes Kari Salonen, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Therefore, more queues are likely to be seen again in the afternoon.
      Consequently, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 30 minutes earlier than recommended by airlines.
     
The reason for delays is the fact that more stringent security inspection procedures have been in place since Tuesday evening of last week. On the following morning, many passengers were surprised, as they had to wait in line for the safety inspection for more than an hour.
      The delays also caused flights to leave behind schedule, but things soon went back to normal, Finnair spokesman Usko Määttä.
      In contrast with last week, all inspection points have been in operation during the morning rush throughout this week.
      "We intend to open another inspection point in departure hall three as soon as possible", Salonen promises.
      The busiest time at Helsinki-Vantaa is between 6.30 a.m. and 8.00 a.m., when a number of successive flights depart for Europe.
      Another rush period is in the afternoon between 2.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m.
     
On any morning, it is normal to wait in line for the security screening for more than 30 minutes, Helsingin Sanomat found out on Thursday.
      At six a.m., it was still quiet in departure hall two, while in the adjacent departure hall three, passengers had to queue for 15 minutes for the security control, after first standing in line for check-in for 15 minutes.
      "It did not take so long after all", observed Mikko Leinonen, a passenger bound for Southern India, after 14 minutes’ waiting. He was one of the few who took a positive attitude toward queuing.
      Finland’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Mauri Pekkarinen (Centre) arrived at the end of the security line in departure hall two en route to Brussels at 7.20 a.m. His flight was about to leave soon, and he had to jump the queue as he was summoned to come to the gate.
      Under the new guidelines, coats and jackets have to undergo X-ray inspection along with hand luggage. Laptop computers must also be taken out of their cases.
     
Reasons for the delays include the inadequate information about the changes and the insufficient number of inspection points in operation.
      The new regulations are based on an EU directive on safety inspections, which the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) says is in use in a number of European countries.
      Currently, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is the only airport in Finland where passengers’ jackets have to undergo X-ray inspection along with hand luggage. However, the CAA plans to implement the same screening procedures at all Finnish airports.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Stepped-up security inspections cause delays at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (24.11.2005)

Links:
  The Civil Aviation Authority’s press release: Tightened Screening Procedure Means Longer Waiting Times at Security Control (23.11.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat