Finnair adds Goa in long-haul expansion drive

Finnair will launch its first flights to Goa this year, as part of a major expansion of its long-haul network.

The Helsinki-based national carrier will start flying to the Indian beach destination on 29 November 2017, operating two weekly flights for the winter season, ending on 21 March 2018. Services will run every Wednesday and Sunday using an Airbus A330 aircraft.

This forms part of a significant Asian expansion planned by Finnair. Also in India, the airline will add one more weekly flight to Delhi, taking the total frequency to six weekly flights next winter. And in Thailand, two additional weekly frequencies will be added to the Helsinki-Bangkok route, taking the total to 16 flights per week,

Finnair will also add two more weekly services to Singapore, making it a daily destination, while three more weekly frequencies will be added to Hong Kong, taking the year-round total to 10 flights per week.

Goa is not the only new long-haul destination being added to Finnair’s route map next winter; weekly flights to the Mexican resort of Puerto Vallarta will run from 19 November 2017 to 18 March 2018, and services to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic will operate weekly from 30 November to 22 March. Finally, Finnair will start flying to Cuba on 1 December, with two weekly flights to Havana running until 23 March.

These new services are being enabled by the expansion of Finnair’s long-haul fleet, notably the airline’s new 297-seat, three-class Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

“With the expected arrival of four new Airbus A350 aircraft in 2017, we are pressing ahead with our growth strategy,” said Juha Järvinen, Finnair’s chief commercial officer. “These newest additions will offer even more travel options and flexibility for our customers travelling between Asia and Europe through our efficient Helsinki airport hub which guarantees a short and smooth connection.”