Until the City evicted all aviation activities in 2021, Helsinki-Malmi Airport was a lively hub of general aviation in the capital region – and the only one. Although traffic declined in the early 1990s due to the economic depression and especially the introduction of VAT into training and maintenance services, since the late 1990s it rose back to its typical level. Even in the coldest season, about 2000-4000 flight operations were logged per month, and measured by landings Malmi Airport was the second-busiest airport in Finland.
Helsinki-Malmi has been the biggest, most productive and from the point of view of taxpayers the most cost-effective 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 1930s 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 the 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 has been the only proper airport for unscheduled light traffic and the only backup airport for Helsinki-Vantaa International within 150 km of Helsinki. Its infrastructure including the runways, taxiways, apron and historical buildings is still there and could be returned to its proper use in in a matter of weeks.