Finnair flights to India to be quadrupled

New Delhi, Jan 22 (UNI) Finnair is set for a massive boost to fast-growing Asian markets with significant increase in traffic to India and China.

In response to strong demand, the number of weekly flights to India will increase from the current three to 12; while there will also be an increase in flights to China.

In June, Finnair will launch a new Indian route with flights to Mumbai which will be served non-stop from Helsinki five days a week.

Moreover, in mid-May the current three-weekly frequency for flights to the Indian capital Delhi will be increased to daily.

''It will be extremely hard, if not impossible for airlines to secure new arrival and departure slots at Indian airports in the coming years,'' said Mr Henrik Arle, Finnair's deputy CEO responsible for scheduled passenger traffic.

''By adding to its Indian scheduled traffic just now, Finnair is ensuring its presence in these fast growing markets.'' Meanwhile, Finnair's China traffic will increase in mid-May with the boosting in frequency of non-stop Hong Kong services from four times a week to daily. Non-stop services will continue over the next winter timetable season.

The Chinese network will be further strengthened with the addition of a fourth weekly flight to Guangzhou.

As a result of the increases in Indian and Chinese traffic, the onward flights from Bangkok to Singapore will no longer be operated.

Singapore and the flights previously planned for Kuala Lumpur will be served in cooperation with partner airlines.

Finnair Asian traffic will grow this year by over 30 per cent since Finnair is adding two new Airbus A340 aircraft for the long-haul fleet during May and June.

UNI