Helsinki Archives – London Air Travel

Finnair launches Helsinki to Fukuoka & Guangzhou from May 2016

Finnair continues its strategy of making its Helsinki hub the gateway to Asia with the launch of two new routes, to Fukuoka and Guangzhou.

Finnair will launch a direct route from Helskini to Fukuoka in southern Japan in May 2016, with three weekly flights.

The service to Fukuoka makes Finnair the only European airline to fly to four cities in Japan, the others being Tokyo Narita, Nagoya and Osaka.

Finnair will launch a direct route to Guangzhou in China with four weekly flights between 6 May and 29 October 2016.

Guangzhou is Finnair’s sixth destination in Greater China. Finnair has year-round services to Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong and Shanghai, and a summer seasonal service to Xi’an.

Both destinations will be served with Finnair’s Airbus A330 aircraft, in a two class (economy and business) and configuration.

Finnair’s flight to Fukuoka will be part of the British Airways, Finnair and Japan Airlines joint-venture, and passengers of the respective airlines will be able to book this flight, and onward connections.

Flights are now open for booking at Finnair.com

Timetable:

Flight AY67 Depart Helsinki 17:00 – Arrive Guangzhou 07:30 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)
Flight AY68 Depart Guangzhou 10:00 – Arrive Helsinki 15:00 (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday)

Flight AY75 Depart Helsinki 16:30 – Arrive Fukuoka 08:00 (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)
Flight AY76 Depart Fukuoka 09:30 – Arrive Helsinki (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)

Finnair’s Airbus A350 aircraft is coming to Heathrow in October 2015

London Air Travel » Helsinki

Finnair Airbus A350 Business class cabin

When an airline introduces a new type of long-haul aircraft into its fleet, it is standard practice to undertake short-haul test flights. This is so pilots can undertake a sufficient number of take-offs and landings to fly the aircraft and cabin crew can become familiar with the layout of the cabins and galleys.

It is for this reason that Finnair will be bringing its brand new Airbus A350 to London Heathrow in October 2015 as part of a series of test flights across Europe.

The Airbus A350 is due to operate on the following flights between London Heathrow and Helsinki and flights can be booked now on Finnair’s website.

Tuesday 6 October 2015

Flight AY831 Helsinki – London Heathrow
Flight AY840 London Heathrow –Helsinki

Thursday 15 October 2015

Flight AY995 Helsinki – London Heathrow
Flight AY996 London Heathrow – Helsinki

Friday 16 October 2015

Flight AY995 Helsinki – London Heathrow
Flight AY996 London Heathrow – Helsinki

The aircraft features an entirely new cabin, including a business class cabin with aisle access for all seats. It is due to fly from Helsinki to Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong progressively from 25 October 2015.

We should sound a note of caution that schedules may change at short notice if there are teething issues. It is entirely within Finnair’s discretion to let passengers change flights if this happens, if the rules of your ticket do not allow any changes.

Finnair Unveils Airbus A350 Cabins

London Air Travel » Helsinki

Over the past fifteen years, Finnair has been steadily, but surely, building a niche as the European airline that provides the most efficient link between Europe and Asia via its hub in Helsinki.

In 2000, Finnair served just three destinations in Asia. Now, it serves 15 destinations. Finnair also serves a number of cities without direct links to London including Chongqing and Xi’an in China and Nagoya and Osaka in Japan.

Unfortunately, this has yet to translate into long term profitability for the airline. On Friday, Finnair joined the list of European airlines to issue a profit warning.

However, the airline is committed to its strategy and aims to double revenues from Asia by 2020. This week, Finnair revealed the interiors for its new Airbus A350 aircraft which will replace its quad-engine Airbus A340 aircraft and ply routes from Helsinki to Asia from mid 2015.

The airline has 11 firm orders for Airbus A350 aircraft, and a further 8 options.

The aircraft will initially be deployed on flights to Shanghai, Bangkok and Beijing in 2015. Hong Kong and Singapore will be served by the A350 in 2016.

In business class, Finnair has opted for the Zodiac Cirrus III seat which American Airlines (Boeing 777-300 flights only), Air France and Cathay Pacific have also adopted.

This seat provides both a fully flat bed and direct aisle access for all passengers, which is increasingly becoming standard for business class cabins. Finnair’s seat will also include touchscreen in flight entertainment and AC and USB power sockets. There will be a total of 46 seats in the cabin.