Finland’s Regions Join Forces at Tampere Aviation Forum 2025 – Building Connectivity, Green Growth and Future-Ready Logistics
Credit: Business Tampere Oy
The Tampere Aviation Forum 2025, held alongside Finland’s largest industrial event, the Subcontracting Trade Fair (Alihankinta), brought together key stakeholders from aviation, industry, logistics, and regional development to discuss how Finland can stay connected and competitive in the coming decade.
The event highlighted four interlinked themes shaping the future of regional aviation and mobility:
- The role of regional airports in supporting industry and regional vitality
- Seamless travel chains and multimodal accessibility
- Finland’s domestic air network 2.0
- The role of logistics and air cargo in the green transition
Regional Airports – Gateways for Industry
Regional airports were recognized as strategic assets for business competitiveness, export industries, and balanced national growth. Speakers stressed that maintaining strong regional air links supports both daily business travel and Finland’s resilience in logistics and national preparedness.
As Dr. Max Hirsh (Airport City Academy) noted in his keynote, “Finland’s future in aviation will be built on the unique strengths of its regions. Cooperation, not competition, is the key to national success.”
Seamless Travel Chains – The Backbone of Accessibility
Travel chain integration was described as the backbone of Finland’s future accessibility. Tampere Airport, centrally located and easily reachable, was highlighted as a multimodal hub connecting air, rail, road, and digital services across Central Finland.
Aligning timetables, improving data sharing, and developing digital journey planning tools were identified as key enablers. As one panelist summarized: “Travel chains are not built by software, but through shared commitment.”
Domestic Air Network 2.0 – New Models for Regional Connectivity
The panel “Feeder Traffic 2.0 – Finland’s Domestic Air Network 2030” explored how regions could jointly build a more flexible domestic network beyond the traditional PSO (Public Service Obligation) model.
Ideas included joint pilot routes, charter-based operations, and the use of emerging electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered aircraft.
The discussions concluded that domestic connectivity is not just about transport policy, but about regional development, vitality, and national resilience.
Logistics and Air Cargo – Lifelines for Finnish Industry
Tampere Airport’s strategic central location positions it as a key logistics runway for industrial Finland. Speakers from logistics and manufacturing sectors underlined that reliable, sustainable freight connections are essential for competitiveness in global supply chains.
Future logistics will depend increasingly on SAF fuels, automation, multimodal integration, and strong cooperation between airports and seaports. Tampere’s developing Hydrogen Hills ecosystem, and partnerships with Liquid Sun and airBaltic, demonstrate how aviation, energy, and industry can converge to drive the green transition.
Momentum for Collaboration
Across all sessions, a single message resonated: Finland needs better connectivity – and it can only be achieved through cooperation.
The forum showcased that Finland’s regions are ready to work together to strengthen accessibility, sustainability, and industrial growth. As Business Tampere’s Development Director Marita Jaatinen concluded: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Event facts:
📍 Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre, Finland
📅 October 1, 2025
🎯 Side event of Finland’s Subcontracting Trade Fair – Alihankinta
🗣️ Organised by Business Tampere.
More information: Marja Aalto, marja.aalto@businesstampere.com