Changi Airport Group warmly welcomed the announcement by Finnair that it will mount daily non-stop flights between Singapore and Helsinki from May 2011. The flights to the Finnish capital will reintroduce direct air links between Singapore and Finland.

Finnair is the largest Nordic carrier with a strong European network that includes capitals like London, Paris, Copenhagen and Stockholm. Its commencement of operations at Changi will enhance Singapore’s connectivity to Northern Europe and provide air travellers with more choice. The Singapore-Helsinki route will also provide an important link to facilitate people and trade flows between Singapore and Finland, especially with the presence of major Finnish companies in Singapore, such as Neste Oil, Nokia and Kone. Traffic originating from the Nordic countries has also been healthy, growing 8% in the April 2009 to April 2010 period.

Changi Airport Group’s Director, Market Development, Mr Lim Ching Kiat, said, “We are delighted at Finnair’s decision and look forward to supporting their operations at Changi Airport. The commencement of non-stop Singapore-Helsinki flights strengthens Changi's connectivity and is a testament to the growth potential of traffic between Singapore and Europe.”