New Airbus A330 wide-bodied aircraft for long-haul traffic
Finnair long-haul traffic fleet modernisation is proceeding quickly. During 2009, Finnair will receive five brand new Airbus A330 aircraft. The first of them landed at Helsinki-Vantaa from Toulouse on 26 March; the fifth will arrive in November. The modern Airbus aircraft represent the latest modern technology: their technical reliability, passenger comfort and fuel efficiency are first class.
Finnair has focused in its scheduled traffic on services between Europe and Asia. When making its fleet decisions, Finnair has selected the types of aircraft that suit best the company's future route plans in its Asian expansion. Finnair has already received five A340 aircraft during 2006-2008. This year five A330 aircraft will join the fleet and next year three more. The MD-11 aircraft, which have served Finnair well, will be withdrawn at the beginning of 2010.
Lower fuel consumption
The acquisition of the new aircraft will improve both profitability and environmental efficiency significantly. Flying with a modern fleet with low fuel consumption is the best environmental act that an airline can make. The A330s consume 20 per cent less fuel than the MD-11 they will replace.
First class passenger comfort
The technically high level solutions of the new aircraft will increase passenger comfort significantly. In the new Airbus aircraft, passengers can send text messages and they can also choose from the aircraft's diverse entertainment and communications options.
The arrival of the new A330s will gradually renew the cabin appearance of entire Finnair fleet. The seat textiles in both business and economy class will take a step from the fleet's familiar blue towards a light, blue-grey tone.
The optimum aircraft for each route
The A330 and A340 aircraft are distinguished from each other by flying range and cargo carrying capacity. The A330 aircraft will be used on shorter long-haul routes, such as New York and Delhi, as well as on the Seoul and Nagoya routes, where cargo demand is lower.
A330 aircraft arrival schedule
OH-LTM March, first flight New York 6 April
OH-LTN April, first flight Delhi 1 May
OH-LTO May, first flight Delhi 20 May
OH-LTP June, first flight* Osaka July
OH-LTR November
OH-LTS January/2010
OH-LTT February/2010
OH-LTU April/2010
*Changes may be made to flight destinations and dates.
Pictures of the new aircraft can be found in the Finnair image bank.
The A330 aircraft that arrived in March will depart on its first commercial long-haul flight on 6 April - to New York.
Finnair's four-engine A340 aircraft is the optimum choice on further long-haul routes, such as Tokyo and Bangkok.
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