Harri Valkama, Digital Transformation Lead shares what is going on behind the scenes at Airpro. Read how Airpro support employees with smart tools and innovative technologies.
Even though we are in warmest period now, we are already preparing for the winter season. When the winter season returns to Lapland—bringing with it bustling airports, snow-dusted landscapes, and travelers from all over the world—our commitment to empowering our employees and making their daily work more enjoyable has never been stronger.
At Airpro, we believe that digital solutions are not just about technology; they’re about people. By improving and increasing our digital capabilities, we strive to ease workloads, reduce routine tasks, and ensure our team can focus on what truly matters: delivering great service during customer journeys and enjoying their work.
Digital Transformation: Putting People First
Inspired by the lessons and enthusiasm from my earlier experiences at Airpro, I have seen firsthand how digital transformation can revolutionize ground handling. When I joined, I quickly realized that ground operations are anything but simple. Manual work, paper-based processes, and endless spreadsheets have long been a challenge—but also an opportunity. Listening to our team’s feedback, it became clear that the best use of digital tools is to support people, streamline daily routines, and give time back to the core work that our employees value the most.
Winter in Lapland: Meeting Seasonal Challenges with Smart Solutions
Lapland’s winter brings unique operational demands. Challenging weather conditions, peak travel, and the need for smooth, reliable processes make it even more important that our employees have the best tools at hand.
Taking the Digital Leap at Enontekiö Airport
This past year, we made a significant step forward at Enontekiö airport. We transitioned from manual processes to the same digital tools used at our other stations for check-in, boarding, and baggage reconciliation. This change did not just improve efficiency—it made our employees’ work at Enontekiö more consistent, predictable, and less stressful, especially during the busiest days. No more juggling paper forms or custom excel sheets in the biting cold or deciphering handwritten notes when time is tight. Now, our Lapland colleagues can deliver seamless passenger experiences, supported by reliable digital systems.
Rolling Out FirstRamp for Turn-Around Management and Invoice Automation
Another milestone in Lapland, and other network stations throughout Finland, has been the rollout of the FirstRamp system. By digitizing turn-around management and automating invoice processes, we have taken a major burden off our employees’ shoulders. Tasks that previously required time-consuming manual input are now faster, more accurate, and far less prone to error. This has freed up valuable time for our team to focus on safety, customer care, and working together making the winter rush more manageable and enjoyable for everyone.
Continuous Innovation: Exploring AI and Machine Learning
Our journey doesn't stop with these improvements. We are constantly evaluating the latest technologies—including AI and machine learning—to further eliminate unnecessary manual work. Our goal is to automate repetitive tasks so our employees can devote their energy to meaningful, engaging aspects of their roles: using their experience, empathy, and creativity to enhance the passenger journey and support one another as a team.
With AI we aim to support our leaders and frontline staff alike by providing real-time insights, predictive analytics, and smarter resource allocation in the future. It’ll thrive on reliable, high-quality data and grow alongside our organization, adapting to new challenges every season.
Looking Ahead: Investing in Our People and Their Everyday Experience
Change can be challenging, but the enthusiasm and commitment of our teams have been inspiring. The feedback on our digital projects has been positive, and we’re proud to see how these tools are making a real difference on the ground. As we continue to invest in digital transformation, we remain focused on one thing above all: making Airpro a better place to work, winter after winter.
Thank you to all our colleagues for your openness, feedback, and willingness to embrace new ways of working. Together, we’re building a smarter, more enjoyable future for ground handling in the North.
Let’s keep leaping forward—digitally and as a team.
P.S. Our recruitment at Lapland Airports for the winter season 2025-2026 is open in July-August. Read more (in Finnish) and apply here.
