Planespotting Helsinki — EFHK
Helsinki-Vantaa, 15 km north of the city, is Finnair's hub and the place to see its A350 fleet together with A330s, A321s, Embraers and ATRs. Its role as the short cut between Europe and East Asia shrank when Russian airspace closed, but the afternoon bank of Asian widebodies still makes Helsinki more interesting than its size suggests. There are three runways: the parallels 04L/22R and 04R/22L and the crossing 15/33. In the frequent south-westerly winds 22R is mainly the departure runway and 22L takes arrivals at peaks, with 15 used for off-peak landings; in north-easterly winds landings switch to 04L and departures to 04R, while 33 is used only a few times a year. The landscape helps: granite outcrops along the perimeter lift you above the fence at several spots. Summer brings near-endless daylight; winter brings de-icing and low sun but very short days.
- FNF496 PC12
- FIN5CE AT75 9 150 ft
- LHX851 A20N 3 400 ft RWY 22L
- AAN141 E55P
- FIN73 A359
- FIN36D A321
Conditions right now
Runways
- 04R/22L RWY 22L 3,190 × 60 m · 10,466 × 197 ft asphalt
- 04L/22R 2,987 × 60 m · 9,800 × 197 ft asphalt
- 15/33 2,890 × 60 m · 9,482 × 197 ft asphalt
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 07:00
Typical traffic mix
- Narrowbody60%
- Widebody13%
- Turboprop12%
- Bizjet8%
- Cargo5%
- Military2%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Ahtolantie road end (22L arrivals)
A quiet residential road east of the airport ending near the approach to 22L. There is no fixed spot — walk along the field edge and choose your angle for side-on arrivals during the afternoon peak, when Finnair's long-haul fleet comes in.
- Getting there
- By car from highway 45 onto Kulomäentie and Puusepäntie, then left into Ahtolantie to its end. Nothing nearby — bring supplies.
- Best time
- South-westerly flow with 22L landing, from about 16:00 until sunset in summer.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm.
Vesikuja fence and hill near FinnHEMS
North-east of the field, a track along the fence leads to a hill higher than the fence line with a view of 22L arrivals, late 04R rotations and most landings on runway 15. Walking the other way past the FinnHEMS helicopter base brings you closer to 15 arrivals.
- Getting there
- Motor vehicles are now banned on Antennitie, so come by bike or on foot via Simosentie, Antennitie and Vesikuja; drivers should park legally before the restricted section. Pass the barrier and follow the fence. No facilities.
- Best time
- 22L/04R from about 07:00 to 15:00; runway 15 arrivals from sunrise until late morning.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm; a small step helps at the southern position.
Scenic terrace, Aviapolis office building (6th floor)
Helsinki Airport's landside viewing terrace sits on the sixth floor of an office building near the terminal and looks over runway 04R/22L and part of the apron. Space for photos is limited and heat haze is strong after mid-morning, but it's free and needs no boarding pass.
- Getting there
- From Terminal 2 arrivals follow the windsock signs (towards the Hilton) to the building entrance and take the lift to floor 6. The outdoor part is seasonal and has been closed at times — check the airport website before you go.
- Best time
- Early morning, before about 09:00, when heat haze is lowest; 04R/22L light is best until mid-afternoon.
- Lens
- 250–400 mm.
Car park P2, top floor
The roof of the P2 garage, reached from inside the terminal, faces runway 15/33 and taxiways Y and Z, with 22L arrivals and 04R departures in the distance and aircraft taxiing in from 04L. A new hotel blocks part of the view to 15 arrivals, but the kerb by the ramp down still works. A good wet-weather and winter fallback.
- Getting there
- Walk past the escalators to the train station, then left to the car-park lifts; or drive in (paid parking). Terminal facilities a few minutes away.
- Best time
- Runway 15/33 from midday to sunset; 04R/22L from about 06:00 to 15:00.
- Lens
- 100–300 mm; a stool helps over the barrier.
Posti car park, Tikkurilantie (04R arrivals)
The public car park of the Finnish postal group Posti on Tikkurilantie lies under the approach to 04R. In north-easterly weather this is the easiest place to shoot arrivals side-on — an A350 fills the frame at about 110 mm.
- Getting there
- Buses 561 or 576 (night bus 431N) to Postimiehenkuja stop. Parking is limited to four hours.
- Best time
- Easterly flow (04R landings), from sunrise until afternoon.
- Lens
- 100–200 mm.
Katariinantie rocks by DHL
On the west side along Katariinantie, granite rocks next to the DHL site and further north rise above the fence. From here you shoot arrivals and departures on 04L and departures on 22R; the northern rocks are near the rotation point for turboprops and light jets, the southern ones for heavies. The fence has sensors — do not touch it.
- Getting there
- I train to Aviapolis, then bus 576 to 'DHL Etelä' or 'Viinikankaari'. By car, park considerately along Katariinantie. Nothing nearby.
- Best time
- From about 16:00 until sunset, summer only.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
Finnair dominates, with A350s and A330s on long-haul to Asia and North America, A321s and A320s across Europe, and Embraer E190s and ATR 72s on regional routes. Japan Airlines and Juneyao Air bring 787s, Qatar Airways flies in from Doha, and Turkish Airlines, airBaltic A220s, Norwegian, SAS, Lufthansa and KLM fill out the European schedule. Express freighters serve the DHL hub, and US and allied military transports, including C-17s, visit occasionally. Winter charters to Lapland add variety and de-icing scenes.
What actually flew over Helsinki in the last 30 days
Measured from our own ADS-B data — not a schedule, but what really passed overhead.
- AT75 24.1 %
- E190 17.2 %
- A321 13.8 %
- A320 13.8 %
- B38M 10.3 %
- SERV 6.9 %
- A319 6.9 %
- EC35 6.9 %
FAQ
What's that plane over Helsinki?
Check Spotterra's live map — every ADS-B-equipped aircraft around Helsinki appears in real time with type, registration and route, free in your browser.
Is the Helsinki Airport viewing terrace open?
The landside scenic terrace on the sixth floor near the terminal is open seasonally and has been closed for long periods, so check the airport website on the day. The P2 car park roof and the Clarion Hotel's rooftop bar are alternatives.
Which runway does EFHK use?
With the usual south-westerly wind: departures mainly on 22R, arrivals on 22L at peaks and on 15 off-peak. With north-easterly wind: arrivals on 04L, departures on 04R. Runway 33 is used only in strong northerly winds. Spotterra predicts the active runway from the METAR.
When do the Asian widebodies arrive?
Finnair's long-haul flights arrive in banks, with the afternoon peak typically busiest for widebodies on 22L. Times shift between seasons, so set a Spotterra alert for A350 or 787 to know when they're inbound.
Spotterra watches the sky over Helsinki
A live ADS-B map of your area and smart alerts on military transports, warbirds and rare types — with 10–30 minutes lead on long-haul arrivals. Free forever, no card.
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