Finnair to launch Flights to Seoul in 2008

Finnair is to launch direct flights to the capital of South Korea, Seoul, in June 2008 with five weekly frequencies. The flights will be operated with Finnair's new Airbus A340-300 long-haul aircraft.

The majority of passengers are expected to be South Korean, especially during the summer season. The Seoul route will be Finnair's eleventh Asian destination.

"This is a natural continuation of our Asian strategy. Thanks to Finnair's growing European network we can offer the shortest and quickest connections to most European capitals," said Finnair Deputy CEO Henrik Arle.

The expansion of the Asian network is possible because of Finnair's long-haul fleet renewal and increase. The new aircraft will help Finnair benefit from traffic growth and further develop its Asian route capacity. The A340-300 aircraft that arrived this year will be supplemented by two further aircraft of the same type next year.

South Korea has a population of 49 million and a fast growing economy. The country is the tenth largest economic area in the world. The capital Seoul has ten million inhabitants. Its modern Incheon International Airport is one of the largest Asian air traffic hubs.

The flight time from Helsinki to Seoul is 8 hours and 55 minutes. From Seoul to Helsinki it is 9 hours and 50 minutes.

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