Finnair launches a huge new Schengen Lounge with expanded capacity and space for Oneworld elite

Finnair is introducing a new Schengen Lounge at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) scheduled to open on July 9. The lounge will primarily serve customers traveling on short-haul flights within the European region and passengers connecting at Helsinki from the US and onward to Finland. Lapland and the wider Nordic and Baltic regions.

The new lounge will accommodate up to 440 passengers, an upgrade from existing lounges in the Schengen area.

The Finnish airline said the lounge was inspired by Finnair’s Nordic design and was “designed to offer unparalleled customer comfort and convenience”.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free bi-weekly Aviation newsletter.

The airline, based near Helsinki, didn’t share all the details about the new lounge – although it did provide a few photos and a promise that more information would be revealed soon.

The design was directed by Studio Joanna Laajisto and features a Nordic style, including wooden textures, soft forms and warm colors. Furniture is sourced from Nordic designers such as Artek, Nikari and Gubi.

The lounge will have two areas. The larger portion will go to business class passengers and those with Oneworld Sapphire status (American Airlines’ Platinum level status). The second area will be the Platinum Corner for Finnair and top level status holders Oneworld Emerald member (Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum level status with American Airlines). Finnair Plus Platinum and Platinum Lumo members are also eligible.

Finnair will also sell access to the Platinum Corner for 30 euros ($32) or 4,800 Avios.

5 Avios versions: When to use Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways

Daily newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers to get breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive offers from TPG experts

The new lounge is named after Europe’s Schengen Area, which includes most European Union countries, except Cyprus and Ireland. Non-EU countries – including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein – are also part of the Schengen Area. That means flights to these countries will not require border checks.

The new Schengen lounge will look familiar to those who have used other Finnair lounges at Helsinki Airport.

Customers flying direct to and from the US can continue to use Finnair’s Platinum Wing Lounge (for the elite) or Business Lounge (both located in non-Schengen areas), for the first time was launched in 2019.

Finnair will have a total of three lounges at Helsinki Airport:

• The business lounge is not part of the Schengen area
• Platinum Wing (Non-Schengen)
• Schengen Business Class Lounge (including Platinum Corner)

Finnair has just completed the rollout of its new long-haul business class

Finnair also announced that it has completed the refurbishment of its entire long-haul fleet.

That includes an all-new business class area with new seats, a new premium economy cabin and a refreshed economy cabin. Finnair is the launch customer for the new AirLounge seat designed by seat manufacturer Collins Aerospace.

Related: Finnair launches new business class seats and first premium economy class

The new cabins launch in 2022 and are available on all of the airline’s A350 and A330 long-haul fleet. You’ll also now find premium economy on all of these jets.

Related reading: