Finnair is expanding to the US. The airline launched routes from Sweden to three US cities, then announced flights from Helsinki to Dallas, and now it is announcing flights from the city to Seattle.
Finnair will start Seattle flights in June of 2022.
Finnair will be launching a 3x weekly route from Helsinki to Seattle in June of 2022. This route will run through the end of the summer schedule in October of 2022. The flight is already bookable and will operate with the following schedule.
The flight from Helsinki to Seattle is leaving at 5:55PM.
The plane leaves Seattle at 7:21PM and arrives in Helsinki at 2:50PM.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the service will operate in both directions. The flight will cover a distance of 4,784 miles in each direction, and is blocked at 9hr45min in the west and 9hr30min in the east. It is not often that a flight arrives before it leaves, so that is cool.
Finnair will use an A330-300 for the Seattle service. Extra legroom economy seats and business class seats are included. Finnair's A330s are a solid product, but not as good as the A350.
Finnair has a business class product.
This fits into Finnair's route network.
It makes perfect sense that Finnair has been growing its network in the United States. China and Japan remain closed to tourists, with no indication of that changing anytime soon, as the biggest long haul markets for Finnair.
Finnair has flights to Seattle, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. Europeans and Americans are most likely to be targeted by the Seattle route since it is seasonal. Seattle is a major business hub, so I think this will get a fair amount of business travel.
Finnair is part of the oneworld joint venture, which also includes American, British Airways, and Aer Lingus. American is working on building a long haul hub out of Seattle, as the airlines share revenue across the Atlantic. Finnair passengers will enjoy lots of internet access because Alaska Airlines has joined oneworld.
Finnair launched long haul flights from Stockholm to Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, as well as expanding out of Helsinki. The airline saw demand for long haul flights from Sweden, and with so many spare long haul aircraft, it seemed worth trying. The Los Angeles and New York routes have been extended through the summer of next year.
Finnair has begun long haul flights.
The bottom line.
Finnair will be launching a 3x weekly service between Seattle and Helsinki in June of 2022. Finnair already has destinations out of Helsinki and Stockholm.
Seattle has another long haul airline. It makes sense for a seasonal route, between the general tourist demand, the oneworld joint venture, and Alaska Airlines having joined oneworld.
Finnair has a new route to Seattle.
Ben is the founder of OMAAT.
