Finnair plans to close Russian airspace for the winter
Finnair
- IATA / ICAO code
- AY / FIN
- Type of airline
- Full service drivers
- Hubs
- Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
- Year of foundation
- 1923
- Alliance
- one world
- managing director
- Topi Manner
- I
- Finland
One of the European airlines most affected by the closure of Russian airspace is the Finnish national airline Finnair. The airline specializes in long-haul flights to Asia (although the veracity of this claim over the past couple of years can be disputed) and exploits corridors that fly over its eastern giant neighbor.
However, just like FinnairThe Asian market has begun to reopen after the COVID-19 epidemic, with no end in sight Russiawar in Ukraine with subsequent sanctions and retaliation air space closure measures.
Japan is almost, but not entirely, off the map
The Helsinki-based airline published its timetable winter- Season 2022 on Tuesday. In the attached statement, the airline stated that routes to Japanese destinations in Tokyo’s Haneda, Nagoya, Osaka and Sapporo will be suspended due to the continued unavailability of Russian airspace.
Meanwhile, Japan is not completely out of the airline network. Finnair will continue to operate Tokyo Narita – fly directly north of the Finnish capital, up and over Greenland, to come down from the other side of the hub and fly along a narrow corridor between Russia and Alaska and across the Bering Sea. A flight that typically takes about ten hours now takes more than 13 hours.
The airline will continue to operate at only one airport in Japan. Photo: Finnair
A long and complicated tour of India
Other Asian destinations are more easily reached via the Southern Bypass. For example, Finnair’s flight AY122 to Delhi will pass through the Baltics, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria before leaving European airspace and continuing its journey across the Black Sea over Armenia, Iran and Pakistan.
Delhi stays on Finnair’s Winter 2022 daily schedule, while newcomer Mumbai flies four times a week. Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo Narita also fly daily to Finnair. There will also be seven weekly flights to Hong Kong, while there is still only one flight a week on the Shanghai route.
Meanwhile, the Nordic winter holiday destination of exceptional Thailand is well represented with 14 weekly flights to Bangkok, three weeks to Phuket and two weeks to Krabi. Tourists from the airline’s new base in Stockholm’s Arlanda can also choose from two weekly departures to Bangkok and Phuket.
It is not Finnair’s direct route to its Asian destinations in Russian airspace. Picture: FlightRadar24.com
Five U.S. destinations
In the other direction, without airspace restrictions, the airline will fly to five destinations in the United States. Three weekly services will depart from New York JFK, Los Angeles and Miami Stockholm Arlanda. At the same time, Finnair flies daily from Helsinki to New York JFK, four weekly flights to Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare, and three times a week to Los Angeles and Miami.
Passengers traveling between one of the Nordic capitals and New York JFK have the opportunity to fly in Finnair’s new business class seat or choose the airline’s new premium economy product. The airline has also upgraded its standard economy offer with improved entertainment and dining options. Find out more aviation news About Simple Flying here.
During the winter of 2022, the airline will also offer services to 62 destinations across Europe, including four daily flights to London Heathrow, twice a day to Manchester and nine flights a week to Dublin. Ole Orvér, Finnair’s Commercial Director, said:
“We are excited to be able to recover from tourism at a rapid pace, and our winter network serves the needs of both business and leisure travelers.”
Are you planning to travel with Finnair this winter? Do you take flight routes and flight length into account when choosing your airline? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
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