Finnair plans to invest approximately €80 million (US$87.76 million) into a new cargo terminal at Helsinki Airport, near the airline’s technical operations area. Construction of the 377,000-square-foot facility is to begin immediately, with opening anticipated for spring 2017.

To accommodate Finnair’s acquisition of the new A350XWB aircraft, the new terminal has been planned to handle approximately 50 per cent more capacity, which the new aircraft is expected to provide through 2020, said Juha Järvinen, Finnair’s chief commercial officer. More than 17 per cent of intercontinental revenue at the carrier comes from cargo, he added, and 80 percent of shipments transported by Finnair Cargo are transit freight.

The facility will include special areas for pharmaceutical products and live sciences, as well as fresh fish and seafood. A high level of warehouse automation to ensure high quality air freight service and competitive handling will be included in the construction.

The new terminal was located to be as efficient as possible for ground transport from cargo terminal to widebody aircraft stands at the airport. The terminal is Finnair’s second largest investment after acquisition of the A350 widebody aircraft.

Finnair’s cargo operations will continue to be run in nearby Rahtitie 1 until the new cargo terminal is ready for occupancy. Decisions on the final ownership structure of the new terminal will be made once the facility is completed.