Press Release

07 November, 2018

Finnair to expand European network with new seasonal services to Bologna, Bordeux and Porto

Network upgrades comes just as carrier increases frequency for many of its Asian routes, including Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Tokyo and Nagoya

Finnair has announced that it will be further expanding its already comprehensive European network by opening three new routes to Bologna, Bordeaux and Porto during the peak summer season in 2019.

The oneworld member is currently undergoing a period of unprecedented growth, and now provides non-stop services to 19 cities in Asia, eight in North America and over 100 destinations in Europe. With the added new seasonal connections to Bologna, Bordeaux and Porto, Hong Kong customers flying with Finnair will soon be able to enjoy one-stop access to three exciting new destinations in Italy, France and Portugal.

Helsinki’s strategic geographic location cuts the shortest possible route between Asia and Europe, greatly reducing overall travelling and connection time. In addition, customers seeking to gain more from their travels can also book a Finnair Stopover and stay in Finland for a day or two before flying on to their next destination. Often considered one of the best places to spot the famous ”Aurora Borealis” Northern Lights as well as the home of Santa Claus, Finland is truly a destination not-to-be missed.

Finnair’s upcoming 2019 summer seasonal services kicks off with three weekly flights to Bologna, Italy from April 10 to October 16. Renowned for its gastronomy and wine scene, the charming city is also an easy gateway to several other popular Italian cities and regions. Some of the flights offer excellent connections to customers traveling to and from several of Finnair’s Asian destinations.

Meanwhile, Finnair will also operate two weekly flights to Bordeaux, France, between May 11 and September 14. Often regarded as the wine capital of the world, Bordeaux is famous for its food and wine scene, while the historic part of the city is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

Finally, Finnair will fly two weekly flights to Porto, Portugal, between June 21 and August 12. Located on the coast of Northern Portugal, Porto is Portugal’s second largest city and Finnair’s second destination in the country following the successful launch of flights to Lisbon earlier this year.

All three destinations will be operated by the Airbus A319, while flights between Hong Kong and Helsinki will continue to be served by the brand-new Airbus A350, which is outfitted with two-classes, including 46 seats in Business Class and 251 seats in Economy Class – of which 43 are Economy Comfort seats with extra legroom.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer our Hong Kong customers with connectivity options to three new European destinations next summer,” says Stan Kwong, Regional Head at Finnair. “ Bologna, Bordeaux and Porto have plenty to offer and we fully expect the routes to be popular with food enthusiasts as all three regions are superb culinary and wine regions.”

The summer launch of Bologna, Bordeaux and Porto is a timely one, and comes just as Finnair expands its Asian operations. The airline anticipates strong growth in key markets in Asia, and has already announced that it will be adding additional frequencies to its flights to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Tokyo and Nagoya starting next Summer.

These flight upgrades will enable the carrier to cater to greater passenger numbers during the busy summer season. Anticipating greater demand, Finnair will also add capacity to some of its popular leisure destinations, including an additional weekly frequency to Alanya-Gazipasa, Palma de Mallorca, Split and Tel Aviv. The airline will also fly an additional triangle flight on Wednesdays between Helsinki, Ivalo and Kittilä from April 24 to October 23.

High-resolution images: https://bit.ly/2yHzPXe

For more information：
www.finnair.com, www.company.finnair.com 
www.twitter.com/Finnair
www.facebook.com/finnair
www.instagram.com/feelfinnair
www.youtube.com/finnair
Images: gallery.finnair.com 
Finnair blog: www.bluewings.finnair.com

About Finnair

Finnair flies between Asia, Europe and North America with an emphasis on fast connections via Helsinki, carrying more than twelve million passengers annually. Finnair's extensive network connects 19 cities in Asia and 8 cities in North America with over 100 destinations in Europe. The airline, a pioneer in sustainable flying, was the first European airline to fly the next-generation, eco-smart Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and it is the first airline listed in the Leadership Index of the worldwide Carbon Disclosure Project. The only Nordic carrier with a 4-star Skytrax ranking, Finnair has also won the World Airline Award for Best Airline Northern Europe for the past nine years running. Finnair is a member of oneworld, the alliance of the world's leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience to frequent international travellers.