📉 The Three Nordic Gateways Cool Down Together This Summer, Helsinki Contracting the Most
Nordic business jet traffic is undergoing a broad cooldown, with none of the three major gateway airports holding at last year's levels. Avi-Go data shows that over the nearly 90 days from May 11 to August 8, 2026, Oslo ENGM led with 1,401 business jet movements but fell 14.0% year-on-year, Stockholm ESSA recorded 1,079 movements—down only 6.0% year-on-year, making it the most resilient gateway—while Helsinki EFHK contracted the most with 824 movements, down 17.8% year-on-year. Combined business jet movements across the three airports fell from 3,780 in the same period last year to 3,304, an overall decline of 12.6%, with Oslo alone accounting for 42%.
Impact: Helsinki EFHK's nearly 18% decline means that FBOs and ground handling agents serving the airport are facing clear traffic and revenue pressure, and peak-season capacity and staffing arrangements need to be reassessed; Stockholm ESSA is relatively stable, with less short-term resource competition pressure.
Recommendation: Operators and FBOs serving EFHK should, before the autumn scheduling is finalized in mid-September 2026, rearrange staffing shifts and parking resources based on the reduced movement baseline to avoid capacity sitting idle at the end of peak season; at the same time, use ESSA as a benchmark to evaluate the scope for capacity reallocation among the three airports.