From 30th March a six-days-a-week service (except Tuesdays) from Dublin to Helsinki will be commenced by Flybe Finland on behalf of Finnair – and also offer the fastest routes ex-Dublin to nine destinations in China and Japan, with no extra security checks at Helsinki Airport.
Joni Sundelin, Senior Vice President of Helsinki Airport operator Finavia, told Irish Travel Trade News: “During the past five years, the number of seats available from Helsinki Airport to Asia has grown by almost 45%. There are currently direct flights from Helsinki to 15 destinations in Asia. In addition to short transfer times, we have invested in services for transit passengers travelling to Asia. For example, we offer Japanese and Korean passengers an automatic border control while free and limitless wi-fi connection is available to all our passengers.”
Helsinki, which is open 24/7/365 (it last had to close because of snow – for just 30 minutes – in 2003), also offers good onward connections to the Baltics and Russia. Finavia has launched a €900 million development programme at Helsinki Airport (where signs are in six languages), which will include some 70 new or re-vamped cafés and shops.
Finavia is also developing a range of stopover products. Helsinki city centre is 25-30 minutes from the city centre by car and a new rail link will open this summer.
