Finnair is dropping the winter-season flights from its Helsinki-Chongqing service this October, turning the currently year-round operation into a seasonal summer offering only.

The airline will operate its last flight of 2019 on the route on October 23, with service suspended until March 29, 2020 when regular twice-weekly flights will return, Finnair’s online schedule shows.

“We have decided to suspend flights between Helsinki and Chongqing during the winter seasons 2019, due to the route performance and expected demand during the winter season,” the airline said in a statement to Business Traveller Asia-Pacific.

“The number of passengers impacted is limited and we are now contacting them – we wanted to communicate this move early on to ensure our customers can get alternative travel arrangements in good time for their trips.”

Finnair will continue to operate flights during the summer months, however, noting that the suspension of flights in the winter season “does not have any impact on those flights”.

The move comes as Finnair boosts its operations in Greater China. Last month, the carrier increased frequency on its Hong Kong service to double daily, while its current seasonal service to Guangzhou is set to go year-round this October. Last year, the carrier also launched a new service to Nanjing.

The Finnish carrier has also laid the groundwork for a new codeshare agreement with Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines shortly after the latter’s decision to quit the Skyteam airline alliance. Finnair is a member of Oneworld.