Finnair Cargo has confirmed it will launch all-cargo flights to Mumbai from September 16th 2011 in co-operation with Nordic Global Airlines.

The decision comes as India continues to grow in importance to the world economy.

The new service between Helsinki and Mumbai is operated once a week on Fridays with Boeing MD-11F aircraft.

“We have achieved recognition among our cargo customers in India and Europe for Finnair’s daily passenger flight service to Delhi,” said Pertti Mero, vice president global sales in Finnair Cargo.

“The new freighter services offer fast connections between India and Northern Europe.

“According to our customers there is a great need for cargo capacity especially between Nordic Countries and Mumbai.”

Finnair Cargo is a minority shareholder in Nordic Global Airlines, a new all-cargo airline based in Helsinki, Finland. NGA started commercial operations in August 2011.

In addition to Finnair’s 11 passenger flight destinations in Asia and the US, Finnair Cargo provides freighter service to and from Frankfurt, Hong Kong, New York, Seoul and Shanghai.