Today, Helsinki-Malmi Airport is a lively hub of general aviation in the capital region – and the only one. Although traffic declined in the early 1990’s due to the economic depression and especially the introduction of VAT into training and maintenance services, since the late 1990’s it has risen back to its typical level. Even in the coldest season, about 2000-4000 flight operations are logged per month, and measured by landings Malmi Airport is the second-busiest airport in the country.
Helsinki-Malmi is the largest and most productive center of pilot education in Finland. One reason for this is the population distribution: about 20% of the whole Finnish population is concentrated around the capital region. The Airport is located conveniently within city limits and is thus easily accessible by local bus or train, making it possible for anyone interested in aviation to earn their wings there or just take the family out to the Airport’s view balcony, restaurant or terrace café to spend a nice day out aircraft-spotting in a green, tranquil milieu full of aviation history, beautiful 1930’s airport architecture and a unique atmosphere of living aviation tradition – a combination most rare in present-day Europe, where surviving pre-war international airports preserved in their original shape and size can be counted with fingers of just one hand. Helsinki-Malmi Airport, complete with its runways, has been listed by the Finnish Board of Antiquities as a built cultural environment of national significance.
In addition to being the home of several commercial pilot schools and aviation clubs, Helsinki-Malmi Airport is the only proper airport for unscheduled light traffic and the only backup airport for Helsinki-Vantaa International within 150 km of Helsinki.