Finnair today launches a new flight service from Helsinki direct to Seoul. The Seoul route compliments Finnair's constantly growing Asian network and supports Helsinki's status as an important transfer point between Asia and Europe. Seoul is Finnair's eleventh Asian destination.

The inaugural Finnair flight will land at Incheon Airport on 3 June 2008 and the first flight from Seoul to Helsinki will take off on the same day. The flights are operated five times a week with Finnair's new Airbus A340-300 long-haul aircraft.

Since 2001, Finnair’s Asian traffic has grown six-fold. The expansion of the Asian network has been possible thanks to Finnair's long-haul fleet renewal and increased number of aircraft. Finnair took delivery of two new A340-300 aircraft in 2007 and two more will arrive in May and July this year.

Demand for air travel between Europe and South Korea is growing every year. Korea offers a great deal of potential for leisure travel from Europe to Asia and Korea itself is enjoying increasing popularity as a tourist destination among Europeans. A great deal of business travel to and from European and South Korean companies is also expected on the route.

The flight time from Helsinki to Seoul is 8 hours and 55 minutes. From Seoul to Helsinki it is 9 hours and 50 minutes. The timetable enables passengers from Seoul to depart in the morning and with a comfortable transfer in Helsinki, and arrive in Europe by the early evening.

Finnair also has Korean-speaking cabin crew and serves Korean meals on board its flights from Seoul to Helsinki, both in Business and Economy Class.

Timetable

Helsinki - Seoul

• Departure from Helsinki 17:30
• Arrival in Seoul 08:25 the following day

Seoul - Helsinki

• Departure from Seoul 10:15
• Arrival in Helsinki 14:05

Operating days (summer)

• Helsinki - Seoul: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday
• Seoul - Helsinki: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday