Finnair is entering 2016 with new ambitions, in the wake of the first A350s put into service by the airline. Bolstered by its strategic position on the route to Asia, the Finnish carrier now intends to accelerate in the business segment. While it waits, perhaps, to add a new French airport to its catalogue...
Ahead of the hundredth anniversary of Finnish independence, whose legitimacy France was the first country to recognise, Finnair's representatives in France met the press on 9 February in the symbolic setting of the Finnish embassy in Paris. At the helm was Javier Roig, Sales Director for Southern Europe, who made a point of highlighting the advantages of Finnair in France. advantages of the finnish hubThis concentration of infrastructures guarantees optimised connections - 35 minutes, and a maximum distance of 400 metres from one gate to the other, which will be appreciated by business travellers frightened by the long airport corridors - and by the many passengers leaving for Asia. The extension of Helsinki airport, which should enable it to accommodate some 20 million passengers a year by 2020However, this should not mean sacrificing the undeniable advantage of proximity and concentration of facilities. Avoiding "air safaris This is the credo of Javier Roig, who is banking on journey times to Asia that are likely to rival the direct flights offered by European competitors, while playing the economy card.
It's a good message, if the company's good results for 2015 are anything to go by. Finnair carried more than 10 million passengers last year, almost twice the population of Finland, even if growth on the market remains limited (+0.45%)... The airline has no intention of stopping there, and is counting on its new aircraft to gain altitude. Last year Finnair became the the first European carrier to offer the new Airbus A350. Three of the 19 new aircraft ordered have already been delivered, and four more will join the Finnair fleet during 2016.
Finnair's French managers now intend to capitalise on these new assets - in addition to new services such as the In-flight Wi-Fi - particularly on the business segmentThis is a growth driver clearly targeted by Javier Roig. In 2015, only 7.4% of French travellers opted for business class on their flights to Asia, which accounts for a quarter of Finnair's traffic (25%) on the French market. In the longer term, Finnair also hopes to expand its presence in France. Lyon airport appears to be Javier Roig's number 1 priority in Europe, ahead of Bilbao. Stay tuned.
