Aspire Executive Lounges, the hospitality brand of Swissport International, has opened its latest airport lounge at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, in conjunction with OP Financial Group, a provider for financial services headquartered in Finland. This marks the first time Aspire Executive Lounges has developed and designed an airport lounge in Europe for a customer outside the aviation industry. The new OP Lounge by Aspire will be accessible to OP cardholders with an OP Gold or OP Platinum card product, and soon also for status customers of contracted airlines that do not operate their own lounges at the airport. Following the opening, Aspire Executive Lounges will renovate its existing airport lounge in Helsinki, which is scheduled to re-open at the end of April 2025.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with OP Financial Group to bring a fresh lounge experience to their customers and travellers at Helsinki Airport,” said Dirk Goovaerts, CEO of Continental Europe, Middle East, Africa & India, and global cargo chair of Swissport International. “Our partnership demonstrates that our expertise in airport lounge hospitality also appeals to companies outside the aviation industry who aim to include an extraordinary pre-flight experience in their customer journey.”
Located in the Schengen area near gate 22, the new lounge offers travellers a comfortable re-treat with 180 seats across 810m2, including features such as private meeting rooms for those wishing to catch up on business while travelling. The design blends Finnish spring blooms and greenery, creating a relaxing environment. With an emphasis on Finnish culinary traditions, the food and beverage options include everything from a warm breakfast selection to seasonal lunch dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.
“At OP, we have invested significantly in the development of our card services in recent years. In particular, the travel insurance and lounge services included in the cards have been widely used and appreciated by our customers. We want to offer additional value and convenience to our cardholders when traveling,” said Masa Peura, director of everyday banking services at OP. “With the OP Lounge by Aspire’, we can have a positive impact on the travel experience of our customers."
Ulla Serlenius, Finavia's SVP, Helsinki Airport, added: “We are delighted to welcome ‘OP Lounge by Aspire’ to Helsinki Airport. In the airport industry, we see a global trend in growing popularity of lounge areas and services among travellers, and we have also invested in this at Helsinki Airport. Located in the most central area of the terminal, with great connections to the gates and services, the OP Lounge is a great addition to the lounges, offering world-class passenger experience at Helsinki Airport.”
Aspire Executive Lounges is one of the world’s largest brands in the airport hospitality sector, welcoming more than six million guests per year who can choose from a growing network of nearly 100 lounges.
"For many years, Swissport has been a key player at Helsinki Airport across various business units. We provide aircraft fuelling, manage two modern air cargo warehouses, and serve cargo freighters, underscoring our integral role at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport since 2011,” added Goovaerts. “As the sole commercial lounge provider in the Schengen area, we are excited to continue delivering exceptional services in two newly designed spaces in Helsinki and to further expand our hospitality business across Europe and beyond.”
