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Finnair launched two services to Asia from its Helsinki (HEL) hub on 6 and 7 May, starting on the former date with a four times weekly service to Guangzhou (CAN). Services on the 7,670-kilometre sector to the Chinese city will be operated four times weekly onboard the oneworld member’s A330-300 fleet. “I’m glad to see that Guangzhou has joined the Finnair network,” says Pekka Vauramo, Finnair President and CEO. “China is one of the most important markets for Finnair. The carrier has long been committed to providing fast connections to European destinations via its Helsinki hub.” The next day the carrier commenced services to Fukuoka (FUK), the airline’s fourth destination in Japan after Tokyo Narita, Osaka Kansai and Nagoya. Timo Järvelä, Head of Key Account Management and Route Development, Finavia, tells anna.aero that Finnair and Japan Airlines, which operates to Tokyo Narita from Helsinki, expect to carry approximately 600,000 passengers between them this year on services between the Finish capital and Japan, on over 30 weekly flights. At a distance of 7,586 kilometres, the city pair will be flown thrice-weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Return journeys operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays). Finnair will also utilise its A330-300 fleet on its latest Japanese route, with Helsinki becoming Fukuoka’s only European destination. Fukuoka used to see service from KLM on a route to Amsterdam, however according to OAG Schedules Analyser data the route was dropped on 3 January this year. Neither of Finnair’s two new routes to Asia will face direct competition. On 7 May the carrier also commenced a third route from Helsinki, in the form of a weekly (Saturdays) service to Santorini (JTR). Originally operated by the carrier as a charter, the now scheduled 2,659-kilometre route will be operated by the airline’s fleet of A321s, facing no incumbents according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.