China trip on the mend: Sichuan Airlines continues flights between Helsinki and Chengdu
The Chinese airline Sichuan Airlines will fly once a week from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport from July 29, 2022. The reopening of the route is an important step towards the revival of scheduled flights in China.
Originally launched in the summer of 2019, the route has been on hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) has decided to allow flights from China to Finland not only from Shanghai but also from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.
“We are very happy that Sichuan Airlines is returning to Helsinki-Vantaa. The reopening of the route is an important step towards China’s air transport recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic“, says Petri VuoriDirector responsible for Finavia’s route development.
An Airbus A330 aircraft flies the route once a week on Fridays. In weeks 29–31, the arrival time at Helsinki-Vantaa airport is 04:00 local time and the flight to Chengdu leaves at 06:00.
The schedule changes on August 19, 2022, after which the flight arrives at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport at 21:50 local time and departs Chengdu at 23:20.
Previously, the route ran from Chengdu to Copenhagen via Helsinki-Vantaa. Now the route runs directly between Helsinki-Vantaa and Chengdu.