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.

Today, 1 October, Fintraffic’s Vessel Traffic Services is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its vessel traffic service (VTS). What do 30 years of vessel traffic service look like from the perspective of those who are working there, and how did it all begin? In the following, Henrik Uski, Shift Manager at Fintraffic’s Gulf of Finland VTS Centre, and Petteri Keuramo, Shift Manager at the Western Finland VTS Centre, share their views.

Finland is one of the first countries in the world to introduce solutions based on the new international S-100 family of standards in maritime transport. The aim of the solutions is to make digital maritime information more uniform and easier to use in different systems. The distribution service developed by Fintraffic will enable the transmission of navigational warnings in digital format directly to ships’ navigation systems.

Today, 24 September, is the IMO’s World Maritime Day. Its two-year theme for 2026–2027 is From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence. This theme encourages us to put internationally agreed objectives and rules into practice – through national legislation, work of the public authorities, and everyday actions. Good regulation is a foundation, but safety can only be built upon it when the objectives become practical solutions and the continuous development of operations.

In safety-critical work, mental well-being is not a soft bonus – it is an inseparable part of work performance. Chief Human Resources Officer Hanna Hovi emphasises that traffic control requires alertness, rest and trust in the work community at all times, exceptional circumstances included.