Finnair has announced plans to launch flights to Mumbai this summer, as part of “a series of changes being made to the Finnish flag-carrier’s schedules as they adapt to the closure of Russian airspace”.
It’s not the first time the airline has served the Helsinki-Mumbai route – as we reported here flights were suspended back in 2009, with Finnair at the time citing “unfavourable economic conditions affecting both passenger and cargo sales in India and Europe”. The carrier has confirmed that the route last operated in April 2009.
Service will now relaunch “in July”- an exact date has yet to be confirmed, but tickets for the thrice-weekly route will go on sale on April 5.
Finnair’s Asian network has been significantly impacted by the war in Ukraine and the subsequent closure of Russian airspace, with several services rerouted and others suspended.
The carrier said that it is continuing to serve key destinations in Asia, with daily flights to Bangkok, Delhi, Singapore and Tokyo, thrice-weekly to Seoul, twice-weekly to Hong Kong, and weekly to Shanghai, alongside the new Mumbai route.
However all other flights to Japan (aside from Tokyo) have been suspended for the summer 2022 season, and Finnair’s planned new route to Busan – which had already been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic – has also been postponed.
In more positive news, the airline will fly to nearly 70 destinations across Europe this summer, as well as offering US services to New York JFK, Chicago and Los Angeles.
A new route to Dallas Fort Worth launches this weekend, with Seattle to follow on June 1.
Commenting on the news Ole Orver, Finnair’s chief commercial officer, said: “Summer sees us increasing flights to over 300 daily flights.
“We continue to serve our key Asian destinations despite the longer routings caused by Russian airspace closure, and also have an excellent offering in Europe and North America.”