Flights suspended for a month
GPS interference overcome: Finnair lands in Estonia again
02.06.2024, 19:29
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About five weeks ago, nothing worked anymore: After numerous airlines detected interference signals over the Baltic Sea, Finnair stopped its flights to Estonia. In Tartu, Estonia, technical equipment was upgraded so that landings were no longer a gamble.
Finnair has resumed its flights from Helsinki to Tartu in Estonia, which had been temporarily suspended due to ongoing disruptions to GPS satellite navigation. A good month after the connection was suspended, a plane belonging to the Finnish airline landed at the airport of the second largest city in the Baltic EU and NATO country. According to a report on the website of the newspaper “Postimees”, it took 26 passengers to Tartu before taking off again shortly afterwards with 57 passengers on board towards Helsinki.
“We are glad that we have survived this and that the flight connection is now back in place,” said Tartu Mayor Urmas Klaas. “It is important for Tartu and the whole of South Estonia, for our twelve universities, the University Hospital, the economy – everyone needs these flights.” Finnair is the only airline that offers international flights to Tartu, which holds the title of European Capital of Culture in 2024.
Finnair suspended the connection at the end of April after two of its aircraft had to be diverted because GPS interference prevented them from landing in Tartu. It is one of the few airports in the region where a GPS connection was required for this. Radio signals from ground stations can now also be used for this in Tartu.
The GPS signal is used by aircraft to determine their own position and for navigation. Estonia blames neighboring Russia for the disruptions. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna spoke of a “hybrid attack.” Klaas also stressed: “Russia wants to disrupt our everyday lives and undermine our sense of security.”