Suomi.fi Open-Data Platform Down for Emergency Maintenance, Slowing Digital Identity Verifications
Finland’s Airports Handle 1.8 Million Passengers in September 2026, Up 7 % Year-on-Year
Traficom Takes My e-Services Offline After Security Alert, Disrupting Licence and Vehicle Transactions
Latest News
Cyber-security incident takes down Traficom passenger-transport portals in Southwest Finland
A cyber-intrusion forced Traficom to shut down its Seutu+ regional ticketing website on 21 October, disrupting online purchases for bus and ferry travel in Southwest Finland. Physical ticket sales remain available and penalty fees are suspended, but employers should remind travellers to keep paper receipts for reimbursement.
Air Serbia to Restore Belgrade–Helsinki Flights After Six-Year Hiatus
Finavia confirms that Air Serbia will resume Belgrade–Helsinki flights on 1 April 2027, offering three weekly E195 services after a six-year break. The reinstated route will streamline business and VFR travel between Finland and the Western Balkans and further diversify Helsinki Airport’s European network.
Air-traffic recovery accelerates: Finnish airports handle 1.8 million passengers in September
Statistics Finland figures released on 21 October show Finnish airports handled 1.8 million passengers in September 2026, just 6 % below 2019 levels and up 12 % year-on-year. The strong recovery, led by Asian long-haul routes, will ease seat constraints but underscores the need for early airport arrival until new security lanes come online.
Defence Minister Häkkänen to lead 20-company delegation to Japan, highlighting outbound corporate mobility
From 26–28 October, Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen will head a delegation of 20 Finnish defence-and-dual-use tech companies to Japan, using a pilot 48-hour ‘group business visa’. The mission will test new mobility facilitations under the Finland-Japan defence accord and could shorten future secondments for engineers and project managers.
Foreign Minister Valtonen Leads Trade-and-Security Mission to Switzerland
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen is in Switzerland (21–22 Oct) to discuss security policy and front bilateral trade opportunities, accompanied by Finnish defence-tech firms. The visit may pave the way for streamlined short-term assignments between the two innovation-focused countries.
Kela announces online-service outage on 22 October—possible delays in benefit registrations for new movers
Kela’s OmaKela e-service will be offline on 22 October from 06:00–08:00 for upgrades, potentially delaying benefit applications by newly arrived foreign employees. The update readies the portal for EU Digital Wallet log-ins, so HR teams should reschedule document uploads outside the downtime window.
Finland enacts Aliens Act amendment 912/2026, tightening employer reporting and accelerating start-up permit processing
Finland has published Statute 912/2026 amending the Aliens Act. From 20 October businesses must electronically report salary and contract details for every non-EU hire within seven days, and notify the authorities of contract changes within 14 days. The law also caps Migri’s processing time for work permits at two months and requires Business Finland to deliver opinions on start-up residence-permit renewals within 30 days, accelerating decisions for foreign founders. The changes tighten employer compliance while giving global mobility teams clearer timelines.
Lapland to Gain Ten New Direct Routes as Winter 2026-27 Flight Program Finalised
Finavia confirms ten additional international routes to Lapland for winter 2026-27, bringing Rovaniemi’s route map to 37 and adding new links for Kittilä, Ivalo, Kuusamo and Kemi-Tornio. Faster, direct access from major European hubs will benefit business travellers and project teams, while providing a live test of Finland’s new EES border-processing technology.