“We are delighted to welcome China Southern Airlines’ inaugural flight to Helsinki Airport as the airline opens its first route to Northern Europe. This connection strengthens travel between Europe and Asia, offering Chinese travellers unique experiences in Finland and convenient connections throughout Europe, while providing European passengers with a smooth route to Beijing and onward to destinations across Asia,” said Laura Inttilä, Director of Helsinki Airport, Finavia, in her welcome address.
Representatives from Finavia, the Embassy of China, and China Southern Airlines were present at Helsinki Airport to welcome the inaugural flight.
Photo: At the arrival ceremony, the ribbon was cut in honor of the new flight by China Southern Airlines’ EMEA General Manager He Lingzhi (left), Helsinki Airport Director Laura Inttilä from Finavia, and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Huixin Chen from the Embassy of China.
Photo: The captain of the inaugural flight and a representative of the cabin crew in a celebratory photo.
The route between Beijing Daxing International Airport and Helsinki Airport will initially be operated three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The flights are operated with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Photo: A China Southern Airlines aircraft landing at Helsinki Airport for the first time.
China Southern Airlines Expands to Northern Europe
A direct connection between Helsinki and Beijing was first opened in 1988. At the time, it was the first scheduled flight connection between China and the capital of an EU member state.
China Southern Airlines is one of the world’s leading airlines. The newly opened route to Helsinki Airport is the airline’s first scheduled service to Northern Europe. The closest China Southern Airlines destination to Finland in Europe is Amsterdam.
Photo: Departing passengers were greeted by China Southern Airlines’ representative An Dongdong (left), Aviator’s Chief Commercial Officer Jonne Lehtioksa, as well as Helsinki Airport Director Laura Inttilä and Director of Route Development Petri Vuori from Finavia.
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China Southern Airlines will start a route from Beijing to Helsinki | Finavia
