Finnair just announced the United States as its latest destination. It shouldn't be surprising.
Finnair launches Dallas flights in February 2022
Finnair will launch a weekly 4x Helsinki (HEL), Dallas (DFW), route on February 6, 2022. This flight will follow the following schedule:
AY19 Helsinki to Dallas departing 4:00PM arriving 6:50PM
AY20 Dallas to Helsinki: 8:40PM departure, arrival at 2:55PM (+1 Day)
On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the service will be available in both directions. The flight will travel 5,224 miles each way and is blocked at 10hr50min westbound, and 10hr15min Eastbound.
Finnair will use the A350-900 Airbus A350-900 to fly the Dallas route, in particular the more premium configuration. It has 297 seats including 46 business class seats and 43 economy seats with extra legroom. Finnair offers a solid product in business class, including seats with reverse herringbone.
Although this flight is bookable, I do not see any business class award availability at the moment. We are hopeful that this will change. Redeeming American AAdvantage points on Finnair is a fantastic deal considering the absence of surcharges from the carrier.
Finnair will fly an Airbus A350 from Helsinki to Dallas
This is how it fits in to Finnair's route network
The new Helsinki-Dallas flight of Finnair is clearly all about connectivity. Finnair is part the oneworld transatlantic joint venture that also includes American, British Airways and Iberia. This flight allows for all sorts of connectivity beyond Helsinki and Dallas thanks to the airline share revenue.
This announcement by Finnair about a new route to Dallas is interesting because it comes only days after Iberia made plans to launch a Madrid-to-Dallas route. Finnair's route network from Helsinki to the United States also includes Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami.
Finnair really needed to rethink their route network in the wake of the pandemic. Finnair's largest long-haul market was China in the past. This is still true today and may not change anytime soon.
Finnair is getting creative. The airline recently launched long-haul flights from Stockholm to Los Angeles, Miami and New York. The airline was able to see demand for long-haul flights from Sweden and had so many long-haul aircraft that it seemed worthwhile.
I am curious to know if the Sweden long-haul service will last or if it is temporary and will be reopened at other destinations.
Finnair offers a solid product in the business class segment
Bottom line
Finnair will launch a new weekly 4x service between Helsinki, Dallas and Chicago starting February 2022. This service will be added to Finnair's existing flights between Helsinki and Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami, as well as New York.
It's not surprising that this route is being announced, following Iberia's announcement of a new route between Madrid and Dallas. Given the number of destinations American serves from Dallas, these flights are all about connectivity.
What do you think of Finnair's new route from Dallas to Helsinki?
