Finnair and Cathay Pacific are improving services on several key Asian routes. The Helsinki-based carrier is adding a new route to Delhi on October 30 and will double the number of flights to Tokyo (from two to four a week) at the beginning of December. Both services will have good connections from other airports in mainland Europe, Scandinavia and the UK.
The new Helsinki-Delhi service will operate with an MD11 three times a week (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) from Finland returning from Delhi the following day. Timings are AY21 at 1410 arriving Delhi 0010, returning as AY22 at 0200 reaching Helsinki at 0600.
Tokyo Narita will be served by an Airbus A340-300 every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from Helsinki from December with flights returning the next day. Finnair's new flights are those operating on Thursday and Sunday out plus Monday and Friday back.
Flights depart at 1720 arriving Tokyo at 0955 and returning at 1155 to reach Helsinki at 1510. It means that business people now have a more convenient spread of departures.
In Asia, Cathay Pacific hopes to launch a single daily flight on the important Hong Kong to Shanghai route on December 1. The carrier is still waiting government approval to begin the service (so its website currently contains no information) with an Airbus A330 or A340 but booking system Amadeus displays flight CX368 departing Hong Kong at 1840 and arriving in Shanghai at 2115 (Friday timings are 2335 to 0205). In the return direction, CX367 leaves Shanghai at 2235 to reach Hong Kong at 0115 (Saturday timings are 0305 to 0545).
Cathay's new service will provide various connections at its Hong Kong hub. It will also providing another opportunity for Oneworld members to earn frequent flyer miles.
For more information go to finnair.com, amadeus.net, cathaypacific.com.
Report by Alex McWhirter
