Finavia has quietly added a new wellbeing amenity at Helsinki-Vantaa: a round-the-clock Multi-Faith Quiet Room located near Gate 32 in the Schengen pier. Opened this week and reported by VisaHQ on 24 November, the facility extends a 2023 pilot in the non-Schengen area and is free to all passengers for prayer, meditation or simply escaping terminal noise.
Natural light, acoustic panelling and a Nordic-neutral palette create a low-stimulus environment, while the local parish union provides voluntary chaplaincy and can even perform blessings or weddings. Four sound-insulated work pods will be installed in December, giving road-warriors a confidential space to join calls without a lounge pass.
![Helsinki Airport Unveils 24-Hour Multi-Faith Quiet Room to Boost Traveller Wellbeing]()
The timing is strategic. From 12 October 2025 Finland will implement the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), expected to lengthen peak-hour queues for non-EU travellers. Finavia wants to offer a peaceful waiting area inside the secure zone, reducing stress and potentially influencing travellers’ choice of connecting hub.
For mobility managers, the Quiet Room is more than a “nice-to-have”: traveller-wellbeing metrics are now hard KPIs in most duty-of-care policies. HR teams should update pre-trip information sheets—especially for employees with fixed prayer schedules or anxiety issues—and note that the facility can serve as a discreet emotional first-aid station during disruptions.
The investment highlights an industry trend: airports in the Nordic region are competing on soft-infrastructure features, recognising that experience and resilience can be decisive when fares are equal. Companies may wish to benchmark Helsinki’s approach against hubs in Copenhagen and Stockholm when negotiating route deals.
Natural light, acoustic panelling and a Nordic-neutral palette create a low-stimulus environment, while the local parish union provides voluntary chaplaincy and can even perform blessings or weddings. Four sound-insulated work pods will be installed in December, giving road-warriors a confidential space to join calls without a lounge pass.
The timing is strategic. From 12 October 2025 Finland will implement the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), expected to lengthen peak-hour queues for non-EU travellers. Finavia wants to offer a peaceful waiting area inside the secure zone, reducing stress and potentially influencing travellers’ choice of connecting hub.
For mobility managers, the Quiet Room is more than a “nice-to-have”: traveller-wellbeing metrics are now hard KPIs in most duty-of-care policies. HR teams should update pre-trip information sheets—especially for employees with fixed prayer schedules or anxiety issues—and note that the facility can serve as a discreet emotional first-aid station during disruptions.
The investment highlights an industry trend: airports in the Nordic region are competing on soft-infrastructure features, recognising that experience and resilience can be decisive when fares are equal. Companies may wish to benchmark Helsinki’s approach against hubs in Copenhagen and Stockholm when negotiating route deals.
