Huge investment in upgrading Tallinn Airport. Photo: Shutterstock One of Estonia's largest aviation infrastructure projects is entering its next phase.
Tallinn Airport announced it has signed a contract worth approximately €66.6 million to expand the passenger terminal, a move designed to cope with rising passenger traffic and increase the airport's future capacity to up to 5 million passengers per year.
The contract was signed with Tallinna Ehitustrust OÜ and Ehitustrust OÜ, with construction work expected to last 31 months.
Behind the investment is a statistic that clearly illustrates the pressure on existing infrastructure: the terminal was originally designed to handle about 2.8 million passengers a year, but according to airport management, it now serves almost 3.8 million.
According to Riivo Tuvike, Chairman of the Tallinn Airport Board, several areas in the terminal have already reached their capacity limits. The expansion is intended to add space, shorten waiting times and improve passenger service.
The project is not just a small addition to the terminal. Between 2025 and 2029, the project is expected to add about 16,500 square meters of new space to the terminal, while renovating and upgrading about 18,000 square meters of existing space.
A new wing of the terminal will be built in the parking lot area between the passenger terminal and the public transportation terminal. The new wing will include a new baggage claim area, new baggage conveyors, shops, restaurants and cafes, and two new boarding gates.
The aircraft parking and service area adjacent to the terminal will also be expanded to allow for the operation of the new gates.
The project will expand border control areas and gates used for flights outside the Schengen area. The goal is to increase passenger handling capacity, reduce queues, and reduce congestion during peak hours.
The existing retail and food areas will also be upgraded, with more space and a wider range of services for passengers.
The airport will continue to operate during the work.
The main challenge will be carrying out the project without disrupting the airport's ongoing operations. Preliminary work is expected to begin as early as fall 2026, with significant work inside the terminal beginning in early 2027.
The airport will remain open and air traffic will continue throughout the construction period, although airport management warns that passengers may encounter temporary changes and inconvenience during the work.
The first part of the upgrade process is already underway. The check-in area has been upgraded, self-service check-in kiosks and automated baggage claim systems have been added, and the public area of the terminal has been expanded.
For Tallinn, this is a move designed to prepare Estonia's main air gateway for the next stage in the growth of tourism and aviation in the country.