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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Helsinki Vantaa Airport

Helsinki (Vantaa), Uusimaa Region (Finland)

IATA: HEL ICAO: EFHK

Longest Active Runway

11,483 ft

3,500 meters

Field Elevation

179 ft

55 m MSL

Runway Inventory

3 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

60.3184°, 24.9633°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#292 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#474 of 7558

Top 6.4% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Finland)

#1 in FI

#1 of 31 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+14.8%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Helsinki Vantaa Airport's longest active runway measures 11,483 ft (3,500 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #292. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #474 worldwide (Top 6.4%) and #1 nationally in Finland.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is a masterclass in sub-Arctic winter operational resilience. Its three-runway configuration offers total crosswind and de-icing flexibility, allowing widebody aircraft to touch down safely in zero-visibility blizzard conditions. Positioned 179 ft above sea level, HEL serves as a premier Great Circle polar transit gateway linking Europe and East Asia with short connection times.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Three active runways: parallel pair 04L/22R (10,039 ft / 3,060 m) and 04R/22L (11,483 ft / 3,500 m), plus crosswind Runway 15/33 (9,514 ft / 2,900 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Vantaa, replacing Helsinki Malmi. Built into Finnair's premier Asian transfer crossroads exploiting the Great Circle northern polar routes.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Dominant hub of Finland, located 55 NM north of Tallinn Airport (TLL) across the Gulf of Finland.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Internationally famous for 'Snowhow'—maintaining uninterrupted airfield operations through specialized fleet snow plowing without closing runways during Arctic blizzards.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Finland National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Helsinki Vantaa Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 179 ft (55 m MSL) in Helsinki (Vantaa). Situated in low-lying coastal terrain, the aerodrome benefits from dense ambient atmospheric pressure, maximizing turbine engine thrust and wing lift efficiency across all departure vectors.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Dominant hub of Finland, located 55 NM north of Tallinn Airport (TLL) across the Gulf of Finland. Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 1 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL) located 54.5 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 11,483 ft (3,500 m)

Helsinki Vantaa Airport's active flight strips comprise 04R/22L (11,483 ft), 04L/22R (10,039 ft), 15/33 (9,518 ft). With a longest active threshold of 11,483 ft (3,500 m), the aerodrome satisfies unrestricted long-haul takeoff and landing distance requirements for heavy twin-aisle and four-engine widebodies (ICAO Code 4E/4F).

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
04R/22L	11,483 ft (3500m)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
04L/22R	10,039 ft (3060m)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
15/33	9,518 ft (2901m)	197 ft (60m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (Tallinn)	`TLL`	54.5 NM (100.9 km)	11,417 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/hel.json ↗