Finnair, Finland’s largest airline, flag carrier and member of Oneworld alliance, has reclaimed its position as the leading European airline to Japan this summer, reaffirming its strong commitment to the Asian market. The nordic airline, renowned for its strategic connection between Europe and the Far East, has launched its new summer schedule, offering 25 weekly flights between its home hub in Helinski and Japan – more than any other European city. This milestone marks the first time that Finnair has held this title since before the pandemic, reflecting the airline’s continued expansion in Japan and underscoring its 40-year legacy in the region.
Finnair Titled Leading European Airline with Connections to East Asia
Finnair, Finland’s largest airline and Oneworld member, has regained its title as the leading European airline to Japan this summer with 25 weekly flights between Helsinki and Japan, marking its first time holding this position since before the pandemic and highlighting its 40-year legacy and continued expansion in the region.
In 1983, Finnair made history as the first airline to offer non-stop flights between Western Europe and Japan, flying over the North Pole. Today, the airline is focused on rebuilding its Asian network, including resuming flights to Osaka, while also strengthening its connections between Europe, Asia, India, the Middle East, and North America. Known for its longstanding presence in Japan, the airline will offer flights to four destinations this summer, namely:
- Tokyo-Haneda
- Tokyo-Narita
- Osaka
- Nagoya
All of the above-mentioned destinations will receive an increase in service with a minimum of daily flights to the destinations, this is an increase from the summer of 2024 where some destinations only received five weekly flights. These flights aid Osaka’s position as the city continues preparing to host World Expo 2025.
Finnair’s new long-haul route to Nagoya, the sole direct flight between Europe and the city, has seen increased frequency, with flights doubling from twice a week last summer to four times a week.
Anssi Partanen, Finnair Market Director Europe, said:
As the seasons change, we have a spring in our step here at Finnair, as we once again take home the title of largest European airline to Japan.
For over 40 years, we have connected Europe with Japan, so we are proud to now offer 25 weekly flights this summer, connecting Helsinki with the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.
From connecting families and friends and driving tourism, to deepening business ties, our routes to Japan have always been extremely popular, and they remain a key part of Finnair’s DNA.
All services are scheduled to offer convenient connections from major UK airports, including London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Dublin in Ireland.
The History of Finnair
Finnair, founded in 1923, is one of the world’s oldest airlines – recently just having had celebrated 100 years of service in 2023. The airline was initially known as Aero O/Y, and flew domestically in Finland before expanding to international routes. in 1955, Finnair became the first airline to offer regular flights between Europe and Asia, laying foundation for its strong presence in the Far East. Over the years, Finnair has played a pivotal role in connecting Europe to Asia, often using its strategic location in Helsinki as a hub for flights across the continent.
The airline became a member of the Oneworld alliance in 1999, further solidifying its global reach. Known for its reliability and customer-focused services, Finnair has also embraced modern innovations, including eco-friendly initiatives and cutting-edge aircraft technology.
Similar to other airlines, Finnair has begun their initiative to better global flying while tackling climate change. One of their key targets is to reduce carbon emissions intensity by 34.5% by 2033. The airline is trying conventional methods to achieve this, more about which can be found here.
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