While ongoing worldwide conflicts and airspace closures have severely impacted Finnair's network recovery, the flag carrier is determined to end this year on a higher note. December is expected to be the busiest month for Finnair since March 2020, through an expanded global reach and a record number of flights operated.

More than 8,200 flights for the year-end

To get a sense of how busy the Finnish flag carrier will be, the number of scheduled flights in December is expected to be at least 8,252, up 27% compared to the beginning of the year, and setting a post-pandemic record for the airline. The significantly increased number comes as December sees eight additional routes being offered compared to the start of the year.

Finnair will increase service frequencies on several routes, particularly within Asia. Flights between Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and Hong Kong International Airport will be upgraded from thrice to five times per week, and flight services to Tokyo-Haneda Airport will be enhanced to a daily frequency.

The oneworld alliance member has also recently joined forces with Qatar Airways, allowing Finnair to add daily flights from Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen to Doha Hamad International Airport. And yesterday, the airline resumed flights from Helsinki to Miami International Airport, further bolstering transatlantic travel.

Such expansions within its network mean Finnair will serve 16 long-haul destinations this winter across North America, Asia, and the Middle East. Services have also been precisely timed to allow for easy connections to its European destinations, such as London-Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Dublin. Finnair's General Manager for the UK, Ireland, and Benelux, Andrew Fish, said:

"We are pleased to be expanding our winter schedule, giving customers a greater choice of flexibility to travel the world. As we prepare for our centenary in 2023, we are happy to be restoring frequencies to our most popular destinations and rebuilding our network.”

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A revamped long-haul experience

The airline's long-haul widebody fleet currently consists of 24 Airbus A330-300s and A350-900s, and recently, overhaul work on some of them has been completed, with the rest expected to be done by the end of next year. Nonetheless, passengers can still experience the new business class, premium economy, and economy class as they fly between Europe, Asia, and the US.

Featuring the best in Nordic design, the revamped business class cabin in both aircraft types will have the new Finnair exclusive Collins Aerospace AirLounge seat that offers maximum privacy and comfort, with the option of lying flat on a proper mattress. As for premium economy, passengers can enjoy two meal services with beverages onboard and stay entertained with the new, larger, 13-inch in-flight entertainment system.

The redesign for economy class was slightly different on both aircraft types, as on the Airbus A330 fleet, new seats and upgraded in-flight entertainment systems were included. In contrast, the Airbus A350 fleet will be getting new seat covers for the aircraft's 18-inch seats, which are by far the widest worldwide. The storage space and menu for both aircraft types have also been updated.

Bottom line

This year has been more challenging for Finnair than some of its European competitors, particularly given its large exposure to Asian markets. The airline also hit roadblocks as recently as last week, when industrial walkouts resulted in flight cancelations. Still, the flag carrier remains optimistic that the network expansion, paired with an improved long-haul experience, should place it on a steadier path of recovery.

• 

  Finnair

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  AY/FIN

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Helsinki Airport

  Year Founded:

  1923

  Alliance:

  oneworld

  CEO:

  Topi Manner

  Country:

  Finland