Finnair to Take Delivery of First Airbus A350 on 7 October 2015

Finnair will take delivery of its first A350 WXB aircraft from Airbus on 7 October 2015.

Finnair has 19 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft on order, to be received in 2015-2023.

Finnair’s first Airbus A350 XWB will enter long-haul service on 21 November 2015 when the aircraft flies from Helsinki to Shanghai. The next A350 long haul destinations include Beijing, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Finnair will also take the aircraft to New York later this year, becoming the first airline in the world to fly to the US with this new aircraft type.

“We are excited about welcoming the first A350 aircraft into our fleet, and look forward to introducing it to our customers,” said Ville Iho, Finnair's Chief Operating Officer. “For the first few weeks, the new aircraft will serve crew familiarisation flights in Europe, with the first commercial flights taking place on October 9 to Amsterdam and Oslo.”

Finnair has slightly adjusted its Airbus A350 long-haul launch schedule, due to changes in the expected delivery schedules of the company’s first A350 aircraft, the needs of the crew familiarisation program, and other operational factors.

“Introducing 19 new aircraft into our fleet over a period of eight years is a major program for Finnair. We have built the necessary flexibility into our preparedness plans and our A340 exit plan to adjust to any changes that may arise over the course of this massive program, ensuring a smooth introduction of the new aircraft into our fleet,” said Ville Iho.