Finnair has unveiled plans to meet the growing fuel crisis by raising the number of onward connections and load factors in its new winter schedule.In the coming winter season the departure time from Helsinki of the second daily flight between Helsinki and Bangkok will be changed from morning to late evening, multiplying the number of transfer connections from Europe. This change will create good return connections from a total some 40 European cities to Finnair’s Bangkok route. Connections to Australia via Bangkok will also improve as a result of this adjustment.

Finnair’s Delhi and Mumbai departure from Helsinki will be moved closer to the arrival time of the main European wave in Helsinki. This way the number of connecting cities in Europe for Delhi doubles and transfer times for passengers to Mumbai will be significantly shorter from many European cities.

At the same time, Finnair’s Hong Kong frequencies will be increased from four per week to daily due to strong demand on the route. Also the departure time from Helsinki to Hong Kong will be moved forward, which cuts total travel time from many European cities. Flights to Guangzhou will be discontinued at the start of the winter schedule.

Finnair’s Seoul route launched in June will be operated four times a week in the winter. Frequencies to New York will be increased from five to six a week due to great demand.

Finnair’s long-haul destinations in the winter season 2008-2009 are the following: Bangkok 13, Beijing 7, Shanghai 7, Hong Kong 7, Delhi 6, New York 6, Osaka 5, Tokyo 4, Mumbai 4, Seoul 4 and Nagoya 3 weekly frequencies.

Finnair’s winter schedule comes into effect on 25 October.
——-