DUBAI: Dubai-based carrier flydubai announced during Arabian Travel Market (ATM) the launch of direct flights to Finland’s capital, Helsinki.
The daily service from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) will start from October 11.
Flydubai becomes the first UAE national carrier to operate direct flights to Finland and the first airline to offer a year-round service between Dubai and Helsinki.
Speaking at ATM, Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer of flydubai, said: “Flydubai will be the first UAE national carrier to offer direct flights to the capital of Finland. We remain committed to opening up previously underserved markets and to providing more travel options to fly to Dubai and beyond.”
Arabian Travel Market is the largest travel exhibition in the Middle East. This year, flydubai is participating at ATM for the eighth time, showcasing its new Business and Economy Class offering available onboard its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations at flydubai, added: “Helsinki is the 10th destination we announced this year as we open up destinations for passengers from across our network. We are confident that the high level of our service and the comfort of our new aircraft with a flat-bed in Business Class will make flights between Dubai and Helsinki a popular choice for passengers.”
To offer passengers more comfort and an enhanced travel experience, the carrier will operate the new route on its brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8.
Thierry Aucoc, Senior Vice President, Commercial at Emirates, said: “This new route is an exciting development for Emirates, flydubai, Finland and the UAE. Through our partnership with flydubai, passengers from destinations on Emirates’ network such as Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Thailand or Delhi, can easily connect to Finland with one stop in Dubai. We look forward to witnessing flydubai’s success in Finland.”
Emirates will codeshare on the Helsinki route and as part of the Emirates flydubai partnership, passengers from the hundreds of destinations spanning six continents in over 80 countries, including from Far-East and India, will have an opportunity to travel to Helsinki via Dubai. For bookings under the codeshare, Emirates passengers will receive complimentary meals and the Emirates checked baggage allowance on flights operated by flydubai in Business and Economy classes.
Finland is popular both as a winter destination, offering a unique opportunity to watch the Northern Lights and visit Santa Claus’s home in Lapland, and as a summer destination, with its numerous lakes and forests. Helsinki is perfect for a short break, with a variety of sightseeing attraction including the Unesco heritage site Suomenlinna, a fortress island which is a 20 minutes ferry ride from the city.
