Good news for Finnair and Airbus!
Finnair PLC, the country’s national carrier, announced Wednesday that it will purchase 12 new wide-bodied Airbus aircraft, for more than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion).
The airline said the deal includes three A340 aircraft that are expected to go into service in 2007-2008 on Asian routes to meet strong growing demand. The first of nine A350 planes will join the airline’s fleet in 2011, Finnair said.
“This is the biggest fleet modernization in Finnair’s history,” chief executive Keijo Suila said. “The decision reflects our confidence and commitment to our Asian growth strategy.”
A340 aircraft that are expected to go into service in 2007-2008 on Asian routes to meet strong growing demand. The first of nine A350 planes will join the airline’s fleet in 2011, Finnair said.“This is the biggest fleet modernization in Finnair’s history,” chief executive Keijo Suila said. “The decision reflects our confidence and commitment to our Asian growth strategy.”
Suila said that the airline, which has systematically increased its number of destinations in Asia since 1999, will open new routes to China, Japan and India. Last week, it announced that nonstop flights between Helsinki and New Delhi will begin in November 2006.
Next year, the carrier will add one MD-11 aircraft to its fleet of seven Boeing long-haul airliners, to meet Asian demand, but in line with an earlier decision Finnair will phase out all its MD-11s by 2012, Suila said.
PHOTO ARCHIVE
Source: Finnair.com – FINNAIR COMMITS TO GROWTH WITH LONG-HAUL FLEET MODERNISATION
By: symon - 10th December 2005 at 19:16
How long do Thai Airways plan on keeping their MD-11’s for?
By: ACA345 - 8th December 2005 at 03:25
Looks like the 752 has disappeared into Finnair!!
Good stuff Steve.
I must agree that this order was very quite, but in a world where nothing is secret, it’s kind of nice. Thanks for the link.
Matt McKarney
By: steve rowell - 8th December 2005 at 02:50
Looks like the 752 has disappeared into Finnair!!
By: ~gb~ - 7th December 2005 at 23:07
I dont think the B752 has a place in the long term plans of Finnair as they try to off load them as charter wet leases when ever they can. The MDx’s are becoming obsolete too with the A319s and EMB170’s in the fleet.
lee
By: Manston Airport - 7th December 2005 at 21:49
But Finnair also has a lot of 757s.
While I like the looks of a A340, I will miss the MD-11. It is a lovely plane that is being replaced rather quickly. Maybe in a few years KLM will be the only passenger airline still using them. They stated recently they intend to use them till 2010ish.
I read somewhere that they have just brought another load of MD-11?
I say World airways to be the last MD-11 operater unless you mean airlines in europe.
Fokker fan
James
By: LBARULES - 7th December 2005 at 18:36
Excellent news for Airbus, the 787 has been stealing most of the headlines earlier, the A350 should look great in AY colours :).
By: tomfellows - 7th December 2005 at 17:51
it would be odd for Finnair to go Boeing, considering their short haul fleet is almost entirely Airbus.
Fair point but other airlines like Emirates have a mixed fleet.
If think Finnair are doing it well by taking all Airbus, as surely it will save maintenance and crews can be trained for all types of aircraft.
By: Mark L - 7th December 2005 at 17:37
Yeah, I did say “almost entirely”. Its Airbus fleet stands at 29, its 757 fleet 7. It actually has more MD80s (9) than 757s which I didnt realise.
By: tenthije - 7th December 2005 at 17:29
The A340 is still selling well, it would be odd for Finnair to go Boeing, considering their short haul fleet is almost entirely Airbus.
But Finnair also has a lot of 757s.
While I like the looks of a A340, I will miss the MD-11. It is a lovely plane that is being replaced rather quickly. Maybe in a few years KLM will be the only passenger airline still using them. They stated recently they intend to use them till 2010ish.
By: Mark L - 7th December 2005 at 16:33
Why have they ordered the A343 as I was under the impression that the A34X was dying because it couldn’t live up to the rival B777,
Unexpected about the A359, great for airbus, but I really prefer the B787,
The A340 is still selling well, it would be odd for Finnair to go Boeing, considering their short haul fleet is almost entirely Airbus.
By: wozza - 7th December 2005 at 16:20
Why have they ordered the A343 as I was under the impression that the A34X was dying because it couldn’t live up to the rival B777,
Unexpected about the A359, great for airbus, but I really prefer the B787,
By: seahawk - 7th December 2005 at 15:55
rather unexpected.
By: Manston Airport - 7th December 2005 at 15:13
Great news for Finnair and Airbus.I like Finnair livery on the airbus there livery don’t t suit boeing aircraft(sorry boeing fans) only on the MD-11.
fokker fan
James
By: Mark L - 7th December 2005 at 13:27
Finnair seem to be playing it really well at the moment, their long haul flights seem to be performing strongly. They are in the “lucky” position whereby they are operating an undesirable aircraft type (MD11) which means they can acquire new examples cheaply in order to supplement growth, before regenerating the fleet with this new order in 6 or 7 years time.
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December 7, 2005 at 1:10 pm