Finnair is to launch flights to Xi´an, China, in summer 2013.

The Finnish airline will begin service to Xi´an from its hub in Helsinki with three frequencies per week starting June 14th 2013 until the close of the summer season on October 26th 2013.

The first direct connection between Xi´an and Helsinki is Finnair’s latest step toward its goal of doubling Asian revenue by 2020.

Finnair will also launch flights to Hanoi, Vietnam, from June 15th 2013, also with three frequencies per week.

“I’m very excited and pleased to announce Xi´an as our fifth destination in China,” said chief executive Mika Vehviläinen.

“The fast-growing Chinese economy continues to fuel rapid growth in demand for air travel to and from Europe, and to open up new opportunities for Finnair.

“We have a history of pioneering better connections between Europe and China going back to 1988, when we began flying to Beijing.

“We look forward to building on that history and offering the quickest and smoothest itineraries between dozens of European destinations and Xi´an.”

Located in central-northwest China, Xi´an is a metropolis of about eight million people and a growing centre in the development of China’s aerospace and software industries.

The city is also an ancient imperial capital and an historic cradle of Chinese civilisation.

The world-famous Terracotta Army, the vast collection of burial sculptures found around the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, is located about 40 km to the east of the city centre.