Flydubai to operate direct flights to Helsinki from Oct

Flydubai has announced the launch of direct flights to Helsinki, said a Finavia press release on Monday.

The daily service will start from 11 October. Flydubai becomes the first airline to offer a year-round service between Dubai and Helsinki.

”Negotiations started already some years ago, so we are delighted that our joint efforts have paid off and this new route is now opening. Last year we served 98.000 passengers on direct flights between Helsinki and Dubai with an increase of 7.3 per cent to the previous year. We are looking forward to cooperate with Flydubai and hoping to break the record in 2018,” said Joni Sundelin, Senior Vice President of Finavia and Airport Director of Helsinki Airport.

Some 50 airlines operating from the Helsinki airport offers 145 direct destinations all around the world. Currently, Helsinki Airport is undergoing a EUR 900 million development programme getting ready to serve 30 million passengers.

There were nearly 19 million passengers at the airport in 2017. It is expected that the milestone of 20 million passengers per year will be reached this year.

“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,” said Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer of Flydubai.

The carrier will operate the new route on its brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with flat-bed in Business Class and enhanced Economy Class offering.

The Helsinki route will be codeshared with Emirates as part of the Emirates’ and Flydubai’s partnership.