Helsinki Airport “best in northern Europe”

Finland’s Helsinki Airport is northern Europe’s best airport of 2016, according to a survey of 13 million international travellers.

The UK-based airline and airport review and ranking website Skytrax listed Helsinki Airport as the 15th best airport in the world overall and the best in northern Europe. That’s an improvement from their position on Skytrax’s overall list at number 18 a year ago.

However, where, exactly “northern Europe’s” boundaries are measured remain a little unclear – because both Amsterdam’s Schiphol and London’s Heathrow airports bested Helsinki this year.

According to Finavia, the state-owned company which maintains the country’s airports, Skytrax surveyed more than 13 million international passengers to reach their figures.

In a press release Finavia said that Skytrax compiled its data through terminal surveys, interviews, mystery shoppers and real-time collection devices.

“Helsinki Airport has already been in the elite class of airports for almost 20 years. The Skytrax award is proof of the high level of the airport’s operations and services,” Finavia’s Ville Haapasaari, the director of Helsinki Airport said.

The Singapore Changi was named as the world’s best airport and Munich was named the best in Europe.

Related stories from around the North:

Sweden: Swedish airport gives travellers climate preview, Radio Sweden

Norway: Airlines instructed to turn over passenger lists to Svalbard, The Independent Barents Observer

United States: Airlines’ new hunting trophy rules worry Alaskans, Alaska Dispatch News