We all have image in our minds of air traffic controllers and their important work in ensuring the safety and efficiency of air traffic. However, few people are familiar with the occupational group that makes it possible for pilots to be heard on the radio and for aircraft to be visible on an air traffic controller’s screen. One of Fintraffic's technical air navigation professionals is Joonas Romppanen, who is familiar with the field from both a practical and a development perspective.

Toni Hytönen works as Director of Safety, Security and Preparedness at Fintraffic Rail. As well as his professional role, he is also the father of two sons and a husband. The family also has two cats.

In 2040, robots and drones will be travelling on land, at sea and in the air, vehicles will increasingly function autonomously, and a journey purchased through a single service will consist of several modes of transport that form a well-functioning whole and a pleasant customer experience. This is how the future is described in Fintraffic’s Traffic Vision 2040. FLOU's Managing Director Taina Haapamäki and Fintraffic’s Chief Strategy and Communications Officer Mikko Saariaho explain what progress requires and why no one can achieve it alone.

More than 700 aircraft fly in Finnish airspace every day. Airspace design creates the conditions for efficient, safe and low-emission air traffic.

The EU Commission granted Finland an exemption to utilise commercial mobile networks for data transfer between trains and the new European Train Control System (ETCS). The decision is significant, as the utilisation of existing networks can help save tens of millions of euros. The exemption is based on years of determined Finnish expert work, where technical development, testing and European influencing have gone hand in hand.

Fintraffic is developing the new generation traffic control and management system Atlas. The system is developed in close collaboration with traffic controllers to ensure that the future tools will respond to the needs of traffic control work as well as possible.

What will the Finnish transport system be like in 2040, and what must be done today to achieve this? The Traffic Breakfast organised by Fintraffic on 28 October in Helsinki examined the question from the perspectives of new vehicles, rail traffic, mobility services, data and logistics. The factor uniting the various topics was the need to look beyond individual solutions: we need common goals, interoperable data and solutions that benefit not only individual actors but society as a whole.

The winter season brings tourists from all over the world to northern airports. On the busiest days, up to 200 flights may land at Lapland’s airports. The smooth running of air traffic requires careful preparation by air traffic control. However, not everything can be anticipated – particularly the varying winter conditions in the region.

The recent outlook review of the Ministry of Transport and Communications highlighted the difficult choices faced by the Finnish transport system. The repair backlog is growing, public finances are dwindling, and new solutions are necessary for funding transport.

The volume of air traffic in Finnish airspace increased in July–September. The number of inbound and outbound flights increased by 3.8% from the previous year, and the number of international flights has returned to pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, traffic on main roads decreased slightly, and track work reduced commuter train traffic in particular.

A smoke test will be carried out in the Vuosaari road tunnel on Monday 19 October 2026 between 10.00 and 13.00 to test the functioning of the tunnel’s safety systems. During the test, the smoke used in the test may also be visible at the tunnel's entrances.

Air Navigation Services of  the Czech Republic, Fintraffic and EANS (Estonia) have confirmed their cooperation on the TopSky upgrade programme by signing the SkyBridge Alliance Agreement. This alliance agreement establishes a business-oriented cooperation model and a flexible governance and decision-making processes.

Via Fintraffic Sky, you can prepare and submit flight plans for drones and manned aviation to air traffic control. If the drone flight takes place outside controlled airspace, a notification of the flight is usually sufficient.

It is easy to sum up what lies at the core of an air traffic controller’s work: ensuring the safety and smooth flow of air traffic. In this demanding and intensive work, situations are anticipated to the extent possible, but when necessary, decisions must be made quickly. A snowstorm, a delayed flight or a passenger having a seizure on board may change previous plans in an instant.