BANGKOK: Finnair, the flag carrier for Finland and a member of the oneworld alliance, has joined the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). The carrier, headquartered in Helsinki, is majority owned by the Government of Finland and listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.
PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy said, “We are extremely pleased to welcome Finnair to the PATA family as our newest aviation member and the first Nordic airline to join in recent years. The airline is not only a leader in sustainable practices but also in pioneering new technologies such as testing face recognition technology for use by travellers when checking in for flights departing from Helsinki airport.”
According to PATA, international visitor arrivals (IVAs) to the Asia Pacific region are forecast to reach almost 760 million by 2021, with over 76 million IVAs coming from European source markets.
“As a PATA member we look forward to working with Finnair as the airline seeks to build both brand and business in the Asia Pacific region by taking full advantage of PATA’s extensive network and the in-depth research and insights provided by the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre,” added Dr. Hardy.
“Finnair is proud to join PATA, as Finnair’s growth strategy is strongly linked to the Asia & Pacific region. Serving 18 Asian destinations non-stop from Helsinki, offering one of the fastest and most seamless connections between Europe and Asia, it is a natural step for us to join this leading association. We want to further develop our business and intensify the ties between us and important local tourism authorities, associations and regional/local companies,” states JuhaJarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Board Member at Finnair.
Established in 1923, Finnair is the world’s fifth oldest airline with uninterrupted existence.
The airline operates services throughout Europe and to 18 cities in Asia and seven cities in North America with emphasis upon seamless connectivity at its Helsinki hub.
