April 19, 2024

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Finnair will start training pilots for its new Busan-Helsinki route, which is set to operate from March next year, according to industry sources on Oct. 11.

From next month, training will begin with a simulation program, which takes around three to four hours per run, according to sources. 

Finland’s flag carrier plans to run 10 flights every week for the new route with its new A-350 plane.

Finnair will also provide localized services, such as having a maximum of four Korean-speaking flight attendants onboard and preparing Korean meals for all Finnair planes on the new route.

The airline will also make it possible for passengers with Korean passports to use its automated departure screening service.

According to sources, Finnair’s expansion into the Korean market is part of its plan to reach out to Asian countries due to fierce competition in the European market.

This year alone, European low-cost carriers Aigle Azur and WoW went bankrupt mainly due to fierce competition to provide cheaper tickets to customers.

Finnair recently gained approval to operate flights to 19 different airports in Asia, including Beijing Daxing International Airport, which will start operations next month.

The company also aims to increase its number of large-sized airplanes, like the A-350-900 model for long-haul flights, from the current 14 to 19 by 2023.

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)