Finnair ups frequencies to China

Finnair is opening Shanghai as its new destination at the beginning of September. Flights to Shanghai will be operated non-stop three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Helsinki with return flights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Finnair is also adding a third frequency to its Beijing route from the start of August. As of August, flights will be operated from Helsinki on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with return flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

A fourth frequency to Beijing will be added at the beginning of September.

"At that point Finnair will have 26 weekly services to the most important cities in Asia," says Finnair VP Corporate Communications Christer Haglund.

Finnair will return to normal three weekly frequencies to Hong Kong at the start of July. At the same time, the Bangkok route will also return to daily  frequencies. Flights from Bangkok continue to Hong Kong three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On other days the flights carry on to Singapore.

Finnair had to cut back its Asian operations in May because of a drop in demand due to the SARS epidemic. As travel advisories have been lifted, interest in travel to the area is growing again.

Starting from September, Finnair's Asian destinations are Tokyo, Osaka, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore.