Finnair is planning to increase the frequency of its nonstop flights to Seoul, Nagoya, Osaka and Delhi from the end of 2010 and is launching a new route to Singapore in May 2011, as well as increasing service to Hong Kong in June.
From December, Finnair will increase to six-times weekly its services to Seoul and to five-times weekly its flights to Nagoya. The airline currently serves each destination four times a week. In January 2011, the airline will increase its flights to Osaka to six per week and will operate seven times weekly to Delhi. (However, Finnair appears to be planning to cut one flight each week to Delhi in its summer 2011 schedule.)
“Our Asian strategy is working very well and is creating many opportunities for us. Due to growing demand, we are expanding our fleet and boosting our market share in the Asian market,” says Mika Perho, Finnair’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.
Finnair’s long-haul fleet includes five Airbus A340-300s, as well as seven Airbus A330-300s
From March 27, when its summer schedule starts, Finnair will increase the frequency of its flights to Seoul, Nagoya and Osaka to daily service.
Additionally, from June 2011, the carrier will increase its service to Hong Kong from seven to 12 flights a week. Finnair says its new daily flight to Singapore, launching in May 2011, will be the fastest connection between Northern Europe and Singapore.
“The shortest routes between Asia and Europe pass through Helsinki, so Finnair is able to offer its customers quick and efficient connections due to its favourable geographical position,” says Perho.
Next summer, Finnair will fly 74 flights per week to 10 Asian cities, offering more flights each week between Helsinki and Asia than it has ever done before. The airline will fly to Hong Kong 12 times a week; to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok and Singapore daily; and to Delhi six times a week.