Finnair to operate normally during possible war

Finnair has said it will operate all its flights normally despite the possible war in Iraq.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International  Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) are monitoring the situation constantly and have planned alternate flight routes for their operations should a war break out.

On the basis of information currently available, Finnair flight routes pass the  possible war zone from a sufficient distance meaning that the flights can be operated normally.

"The possible war in Iraq does not affect Finnair's scheduled traffic, as flights in Europe and to Asia do not pass by Iraqi airspace. Only possible disturbances in Afghanistan's airspace might cause slight route alterations to our Asian flights. We have already anticipated this by obtaining the necessary flight permits," explains SVP Hannes Bjurström from Finnair's Flight Operations Division.

Finnair flights that pass closest to Iraq are leisure flights, which make a stopover in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Finnair's flight route to Dubai passes through Georgia and Azerbaijan into Iranian airspace. Dubai is located 1400km from Baghdad, and the airway used by Finnair is situated some 600km from Baghdad.

ICAO, other European airlines and Finnair have assessed Iranian airspace and Dubai International Airport are still safe even with the possible start of war.

As a contingency plan, Finnair has obtained flight permits which will allow it to increase its flight route distance from Baghdad to 800km. This will allow Finnair to fly to Dubai without disruption even if the international air corridors close to the Iraqi border are closed.

Stopovers in Dubai will be made until March 30 by Finnair leisure flights to Phuket, and Utapao in Thailand and Goa in India. Finnair makes 14 stopovers a week in Dubai.